Join Us

Potential openings for Postdocs, Graduate Students, and Research Assistants

At this time, the lab is primarily recruiting researchers interested in animal work (except for Undergraduate researchers). Depending on the level, prior experience may not be necessary. For more information, please contact Dr. Desrochers at theresa_desrochers@brown.edu. 

Further details of some positions can be found below. Opportunities for cross-training include electrophysiology, fMRI (human and NHP), TMS, OCD, and computational psychiatry.

Postdocs

Postdoc in Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience

Note that the following text is a general description and the lab is primarily recruiting those who are interested in animal work. For postdocs, some previous experience with animals is required.

We invite applications for a unique Postdoctoral Research Associate position to study the neural bases of cognitive and behavioral sequences in the laboratory of Dr. Theresa Desrochers in the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University. The position will include the opportunity to study behaving NHPs using fMRI and/or neurophysiology, human cognitive processes, and/or computational techniques. The Desrochers Lab provides a unique cross-level and cross-species training environment situated within a highly collaborative research environment fostered by Brown University and the Carney Institute for Brain Science. With the research and brain science communities growing, it is an exciting time to be at Brown University.

Applicants should have a strong background in systems neuroscience, behavioral training, electrophysiology, or fMRI. Strong quantitative skills and previous experience is preferred. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Psychology, or a related discipline or must show evidence that the Ph.D. will be completed before the start of the position. This funded position is initially for 12 months with the possibility of renewal. Compensation will be commensurate with relevant experience according to the NIH scale.  Brown University is an EEO/AA employer and encourages applications from minorities and women. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed. For more information, please contact theresa_desrochers@brown.edu.

Opportunities for cross-training include electrophysiology, fMRI, TMS, OCD, and computational psychiatry.

Research Assistants

There may be opportunity in the lab for a Research Assistant. This position could be ideal for a graduating undergraduate looking for a post-bac position before graduate school. The minimum commitment to the position is two years and it must be in person (no remote work).

Dr. Desrochers is available answer questions about availability and other specifics via email. Interested people are encouraged to email a short statement of interest and a CV along with their question(s).

Graduate Students

Graduate students interested in the Desrochers Lab should apply to the Neuroscience Graduate Program (NSGP) at Brown University. For this program, admission is to the program, and not to an individual lab. Dr. Desrochers does not participate in admissions decisions. There are application fee waivers available. More information can be found here.

Dr. Desrochers is available answer specific questions about the lab via email. More general questions or questions about the program should be addressed to the program directors, nsgp@brown.edu. Students with specific questions about the lab are encouraged to email a short statement of interest and a CV along with their question(s). Dr. Desrochers is accepting rotation students and interested students are welcome to list Dr. Desrochers as a potential mentor on their application. Joining the lab for a Ph.D. project is assessed on a case-by-case basis after completing the rotation process that is part of the Neuroscience program.

Undergraduates

  • ​A great way to get started is to attend lab meetings to learn about the lab (with no additional commitment). If you would like to do so, email Dr. Desrochers (theresa_desrochers@brown.edu). Typically those who are considering applying to join the lab (e.g., for an independent study or honors thesis) will attend lab meetings the semester before they would want to start. You are also welcome to join our lab meetings if you are just curious or interested in our work.

Undergraduate Students interested in joining the lab:

  • You do not have to have any previous research experience. We use lots of tools and we will teach you (but see the next bullet point).
  • You are expected to commit to at least two semesters of research. It takes approximately a semester to learn techniques in the lab and so one semester is not sufficient to be able to contribute to the research.
  • You will be required to apply/register for an Independent Study and commit the required 10-20 hours per week to fulfill the course requirements. Just because the class is called “Independent Study” it is not expected that you will be independent. Registering for independent study is to give you credit for the time that you spend on things for lab and to ensure you have sufficient time in your class schedule. Note that Dr. Desrochers can override the prerequisites listed for the Independent Study class, so you can take Independent Study even if you have not completed those classes.
  • Those interested in an Honors Thesis should typically plan on spending the summer between their junior and senior year doing research in the lab, and will be required to apply for an UTRA to do so.
  • If you can satisfy the above requirements, then you should email Dr. Desrochers (theresa_desrochers@brown.edu) to request to attend lab meetings and let her know you would like to be considered to join the lab. Ideally you would start attending lab meetings in the semester before you would like to begin research (e.g., if you would like to start research in the Fall, then attend lab meetings the previous Spring).
    • When you email Dr. Desrochers, she will send the link to a document detailing the process for joining the lab. “Applying” to the lab is an active process that involves participating in lab meetings and meeting with lab members to determine a potential project.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much experience do I have to have to join the lab? You do not have to have any experience! We will teach you all you need to know. Of course previous experience is welcome, and we will work with you to expand your skills.
  • When is a good time to apply to the lab? Ideally you would be in touch the semester before you are interested in joining. The application for independent study and the UTRA are relatively early in the semester.
  • I’m being asked to register for Independent Study, but what if I can’t be “independent”? It is not expected that you will be completely independent, even if you are very experienced. The independence is in you seeking out the experience of being in the lab, not in the expectation that you can or will do everything yourself.
  • My schedule won’t allow me to to register for Independent Study, but I would really like to join the lab. What should I do? Typically, Dr. Desrochers will encourage students to come to lab meetings to demonstrate their commitment, interest, and participation before thinking about working on a project. Contact Dr. Desrochers to discuss if you think this applies to you.
  • Why is it required to register for an Independent Study to do research in the lab? Through the years, Dr. Desrochers has found that even students with the best intentions do not make progress in the lab if they do not budget sufficient time in their schedule for research by registering for the class. Research is a team effort, and being a research assistant is a two-way street. Lab members donate their time to teach new lab members so that they can be productive contributors to the team. If the research assistant doesn’t have sufficient time to learn the necessary skills or contribute to the team, then the experience does not benefit anyone involved.
  • What year of undergraduate should I start research in a lab? Many people choose to do research starting in their junior year so that they may continue into their senior year and have had time to take some neuroscience classes. If you are interested in an Honors Thesis, then sophomore year may be an ideal time to start learning your way around the projects in the lab so that you can transition towards independence for your thesis. These timings are ideal guidelines. Depending on interest, there is still plenty you can contribute/accomplish no matter what year of undergraduate you are. Ultimately, if you have questions, ask Dr. Desrochers.
  • What if I can’t attend all of lab meeting? Lab meetings are typically two hours. Most classes overlap with either the first half or second half, but not both. It is not a problem to attend only a part of lab meeting (just let Dr. Desrochers know). However, if you want to join the lab, then you still have to participate in the time that you are there.

Clinical Positions

Please note that the Desrochers Lab does not have clinical internships or research positions available. Dr. Desrochers does not see patients, does not participate in a clinical practice, nor participate in medical diagnoses of any kind.

Summer Internships, Volunteer or Remote Positions

The Desrochers Lab does not typically accept summer research volunteers or interns. There is not sufficient time in the 2-3 months of summer to learn the necessary skills and procedures. We also do not have sufficient staff or resources to train and supervise those who cannot work independently. Most summer research students in the lab are Brown University enrolled students who have been in the lab, or those who are participating in a formal summer research program, such as the BP-ENDURE program. We are unable to accept high school students as summer researchers.

Work in the lab is fundamentally hands-on, and even if a project is primarily analysis, it often requires access to data and analysis programs that are only available in lab. Our lab is also highly collaborative and in-person interactions are necessary for many aspects of training, problem-solving, and intellectual progress. Therefore, there are not typically remote positions available. In rare cases, exceptions have been made for those who joined the lab in-person and then were temporarily remote (e.g., study abroad), but these arrangements must be made with Dr. Desrochers after joining in-person and long before remote work is necessary.