CCBBI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

The Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging (CCBBI) is an interdisciplinary research facility located in the Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University. Established in 2011, the center houses a Siemens 3T Prisma magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system with a Total Imaging Matrix (TIM) as well as a MagVenture MagPro X100 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) system. These state-of-the-art tools allow research teams to investigate brain structure, function, and causal mechanisms with robust and innovative methodology.

Since its opening, CCBBI has supported numerous federally funded research studies spanning topic areas that cover both basic and translational science. As a hub for innovative and collaborative research, CCBBI’s interdisciplinary reach includes faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Nursing, the College of Medicine, and College of Optometry. The center also supports its training and mentoring mission through hands-on workshops, summer courses, and intensive research experiences for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scholars.

In alignment with its mission to advance neuroimaging research and train the next generation of scientists, CCBBI is pleased to announce the inaugural cohort of its Postdoctoral Fellows Program. This competitive two-year fellowship provides salary and benefits (including health insurance) to outstanding early-career scientists.

The program is designed as a collaborative investment between CCBBI and participating faculty mentors. Year 1 salary and benefits are fully supported by CCBBI. For Year 2, fellows are expected to continue under the sponsorship of a CCBBI Faculty Fellow. Priority will be given to applicants whose faculty mentors can provide matching funds for Year 2, though applicants without confirmed cost-match support will also be considered based on scientific merit, sponsor fit, and alignment with CCBBI’s mission.

The fellowship supports scholars who wish to pursue independent research at CCBBI while contributing to the center’s dynamic and interdisciplinary scientific community at The Ohio State University.
 

Eligibility Criteria

• Doctoral degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a closely related field, earned within the past two years. For candidates who received their degree before this period, please contact CCBBI to discuss the specifics of your circumstances (ccbbi.service@osu.edu).
• As the goal of this program is to recruit new talent to Ohio State, current graduate students or postdoctoral scholars already working at Ohio State are not eligible.
• Sponsorship from CCBBI faculty who will serve as the primary mentor. CCBBI Faculty Affiliates are strongly encouraged to consider a CCBBI Faculty Fellow as a co-mentor.  
• Faculty cost-match for Year 2 is preferred but not required; priority will be given to mentors who can provide matching funds.
• Evidence of superior academic achievement (such as honors or other academic designation, peer-reviewed publications, invited presentations).
• Dedication to a research-focused career, with preference given to individuals aiming to pursue academic pathways.
   

Fellowship Details

The fellowship offers a competitive annual salary of $61,008 plus benefits, with funding available to begin before August 1, 2026.

Fellows will dedicate 90% of their time to pursuing independent research within a CCBBI-affiliated lab. The remaining 10% of their time will be devoted to professional development through CCBBI activities, including engaging in community outreach, hosting distinguished invited speakers, and contributing to the center’s signature Research Day conference. Fellows will also be encouraged to attend the annual meeting for the Organization for Human Brain Mapping, and all travel costs will be covered by CCBBI.

This is a two-year position, structured as follows:

• Year 1: Fully funded by CCBBI
• Year 2: Continued support anticipated through the sponsoring faculty mentor (cost-match preferred but not required).

A progress report will be required at the end of Year 1 to evaluate research progress and confirm Year 2 funding arrangements. 
 

Application Guidelines

Applicants should submit all required materials as a single PDF file to ccbbi.service@osu.edu. Letters of recommendation, including one from the faculty mentor, must be sent directly by the recommenders to ccbbi.service@osu.edu. All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be received by December 15, 2025. Final decisions will be announced by the end of January 2026.

1. Cover Letter

2. Curriculum Vita

3. Personal Statement (2-page limit)

   Describe your research interests, career goals, and how the CCBBI Postdoctoral Fellowship will support your professional development. The statement should include a summary of your prior training and research experiences, your motivation for pursuing postdoctoral work at CCBBI and the sponsor’s lab, and the ways in which your research aligns with the mission of the center.

4. Research Plan (3-page limit, with the following sections) 

   Applicants must submit a research statement that is no more than 3 pages (excluding references) and formatted in 11-point Arial font, single-spaced, with 0.5-inch margins. References should be included at the end and do not count toward the page limit. The research plan should include the following sections:
   •    Aims, Significance, and Innovation (1 page)
   •    Approach and Feasibility (2 pages)
   •    References (no page limit)

5. Two letters of recommendation

6. Nomination letter from CCBBI Faculty Mentor (and co-mentor, if applicable)

   Letter should describe the expected impact of the applicant on the sponsor’s scholarly program and the likely impact on scholarship in the discipline. Please also confirm the mentor’s intent to provide matching funds for Year 2.

7. Up to three peer-reviewed publications