BICOEE Brain Imaging Center of Economic Excellence

Endowed Professorships

Overview: World-class advanced brain imaging that creates a fertile, economic technology cluster requires scientists of different backgrounds; both those who use or translate the technologies to new therapies or other applications, and those who focus on developing the methods of brain imaging.

MUSC Endowed Professor of Brain Imaging

• Requirements:
  This world-renowned scholar needs to be clinically trained in a clinical neuroscience field (neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, psychiatry, or any combination). Additionally, they need research training, and to be a world leader in applying brain imaging to understand the brain, and to develop new treatments. They would need to have received large externally funded, peer-reviewed grants and have administrative and leadership skills. Prior evidence of mentoring junior researchers, and scholarship, particularly activity that spawns new industries, would be highly prized.
• BICOEE Role:
  This person will alternate the BICOEE Overall Director every three years with the USC BICOEE professor, and would always be the BICOEE MUSC Director. They would not perform their own imaging related science, and would be charged with managing the BICOEE team, with high level leadership concerning science areas with promise, grooming junior researchers, and generating pilot data.

MUSC Endowed Professor of Imaging Science

• Requirements:
  This world-renowned scholar would need to be technically trained with a PhD in one of the imaging application areas (physics, bioengineering, mathematics, advanced computer science). Additionally, they would need to have worked in applied imaging settings and be a world leader in developing new brain imaging methods. They would need to have received large externally funded, peer-reviewed grants in the past. Administrative and leadership skills would be prized.
• BICOEE Role:
  This person would be the BICOEE MUSC Leader of Imaging Method development, and maintenance of the BICOEE infrastructure. They would perform their own imaging related science and new methods development, and be charged with managing the BICOEE bioengineering and physics teams, with high level leadership concerning science areas with promise, gaining access to needed imaging tools, grooming junior researchers, and generating pilot data in key areas.

USC Endowed Chair in Cognitive Neuroimaging

• Requirements:
  This world-renowned scholar would have training in psychology, neuroscience of cognitive science, or a combination. They would have an international reputation in using functional imaging to address questions concerning the brain basis of cognition, or the computational basis of cognition. This person would have a history of substantial grant funding, and would have led a large and successful research team. Preference would be given to persons who have experience working in clinical settings, and those with experience on Department of Defense and applied projects.
• BICOEE Role:
  This person will act as the core of the behavioral and cognitive core of the BICOEE. Thus in addition to running a successful research team at USC, they will be expected to mentor junior faculty in cognitive and behavioral science. They will be expected to participate in research projects throughout the BICOEE (at both USC and MUSC) to maximize their cognitive and behavioral sophistication.

USC Endowed Chair in Imaging Biophysics

• Requirements:
  This scholar would have training in biomedical physics, with extensive experience in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. They would have substantial expertise pulse sequences for a variety of MR modalities including perfusion, diffusion, and various structural approaches. They would have an established position within a clinical or cognitive neuroscience group with an international reputation in using functional imaging. This person would have participated in numerous funded projects as part of a successful research team.
• BICOEE Role:
  This person will design experimental ways of using the MRI facility at USC to optimize data collection at USC. They will also collaborate with the Chair in Imaging Science and Dr. Bohning at MUSC to develop solutions to technical challenges that arise as biomedical devices are designed within the BICOEE.