Open Positions

We are seeking highly motivated Undergraduate Research Assistants who would like to gain research experience to participate in a number of ongoing projects in our lab. If you are interested, please email your CV/resume to: Yuanyuan.gao@wichita.edu. We are only recruiting URAs to do engineering intensive projects. Clinical related projects are currently full.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Academic integrity
• Interests in engineering, instrumentation, physics, computing or mathematics
• Scientific reading and presentation ability
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Analytic, reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Self-motivated
• Must have one of the followings: (1) Basic coding skills in Matlab, Python and R or any other programming language; (2) basic skills in solidworks or any other 3d model/design software; (3) 3d printing experience; (4) electrical circuit or controller experience; (5) Finite Element software experience. (5) any other engineering skills you can bring to the table.

In your email, please indicate starting date and ending date of when you can work, how many hours per week (the expectation is at least 16 hours per week, 12 weeks, no matter you are paid or not), whether you can work in person or remotely, whether you are looking for payment, if you are, how much payment you are looking for, what skill(s) mentioned above you can bring to the table and what level. 

The Neuroimaging Lab, led by Dr. Yuanyuan Gao at Wichita State University, USA, is pleased to announce an opening call for one funded PhD position in neuroimaging. The position focuses on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) research. If you are interested, please email your CV/resume and transcripts to: yuanyuan.gao@wichita.edu. Qualified PhD candidates will be invited to give an online presentation on their previous research. For qualified PhD candidates, stipends and tuition will be provided. Continuation of financial support is contingent upon satisfactory academic/research performance and availability of funds.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must possess, at the beginning of their PhD study, at minimum an undergraduate degree or an equivalent degree in a technical/analytic area including, but not limited to, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering, mechanical engineering, instrumental engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or engineering related majors. 4-year Computer Science bachelor's degree is welcome, but the lab is currently not doing any AI/machine learning/deep learning related projects. Our current focus is fundamental research, so if you only have experience in using AI models on neuroimage signals, it would not be a good match.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Academic integrity
• Interests in engineering, instrumentation, physics, computing and mathematics
• Basic coding skills in Matlab, Python and R
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Analytic, reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Self-motivated

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Hands-on experience with optical system hardware and setups is highly desirable.
• Hands-on experience with electrical hardware design and setups is highly desirable.
• 4-year comprehensive Computer Science bachelor's education experience is desirable, but the lab is not doing any AI/machine learning/deep learning related projects currently or in the near future. Our current focus is fundamental research, so if your only related experience is applying existing AI models or slightly modifying AI models on neuro-image or neuro-signals, it would not be a good match.
• Advanced coding skills in Matlab, Python and R
• Knowledge of Neuroscience
• Experience with functional neuroimaging, such as EEG, fMRI, fNIRS
• Experience with human subject studies
• Experience with high impact peer-review paper and grant writing
• For non-native English speakers, English skills are preferrable with a minimum score of 23 on the Speaking portion of the TOEFL or a minimum score of 50 on the SPEAK or a minimum score of 7.0 on the Speaking portion of the IELTS. Scores must be less than two years old.
• A GPA of 3.50 or higher.

The Neuroimaging Lab directed by Dr. Yuanyuan Gao and Mechanobiology and Biomedicine Lab directed by Dr. David Long at Biomedical Engineering department at Wichita State University have a PhD position available starting from Spring 2026. This PhD student will be co-advised by Prof. David Long and Prof. Yuanyuan Gao. We are looking for candidates with interests in neuroimaging motion artifact simulation, utilizing finite element and Monte Carlo simulation tools. This project will solve the problem of how brain tissue deformation contributes to noise in optical neuroimaging signals.

The successful candidate will be joining a diverse team performing edge-cutting research at the intersection of mechanical simulation and photon simulation to contribute to bioscience. This is an excellent opportunity for aspiring researchers who want to contribute to fundamental research projects with deep societal impact.

For qualified PhD candidates, stipend and tuition will be provided. Continuation of financial support is contingent upon satisfactory academic/research performance and availability of funds.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must possess, at the beginning of their PhD study, at minimum an undergraduate degree or an equivalent degree in a technical/analytic area including, but not limited to, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, and electrical/optical engineering.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Academic integrity
• Interests in computing or mathematics
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Analytic, reasoning and problem-solving skills

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the finite element method
• Knowledge of Monte Carlo Simulation
• Experience with Matlab or Python
• Experience with human subject studies
• Experience with high impact peer-review paper and grant writing

Location

The position is in Wichita, KS, USA.

How To Apply

Please apply by sending your resume/CV, transcripts, and a cover letter to yuanyuan.gao@wichita.edu and david.long@wichita.edu.