Postdocs

Our lab investigates the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders by integrating in-house and public biomedical data, including neuroimaging, genomics, and transcriptomics (e.g, UK Biobank, ABCD, ENIGMA, HBCD and etc..). A key focus of our research is understanding how early life stress shapes brain development, cognitive functioning, and dimensional aspects of psychopathology. The candidate will have a background in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical field. We are deeply committed to supporting the professional development of our postdocs. Candidate should have a working knowledge of programming, e.g., Linux, R, Matlab, Python. We encourage and assist postdoctoral researchers in applying for internal and external fellowships and provide structured mentorship tailored to each individual's career goals. Our lab fosters a collaborative and productive environment, and we actively support postdocs in building their academic networks, generating high-quality research publications, and securing faculty positions.

Please send your CV and related documents to email: zsha@mailbox.sc.edu


Graduate students

Dr. Sha will be accepting graduate students for the Fall 2025 application cycle. Priority will be given to applicants who are interested in the Cognitive & Neural Sciences (CNS) Program within the Department of Psychology. The application deadline is December 1, 2025.

We are looking for self-motivated students with a strong interest in neuroscience. Our research involves working with in-house and public multimodal data (including neuroimaging and genomics) to understand the neurobiological basis of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism. Graduate students in the lab will participate in various aspects of the research process, including data collection (e.g., 3T and 7T MRI neuroimaging acquisition and blood-based genetic data and biomarkers, clinical phenotypes). As such, a willingness to learn programming (e.g., R, MATLAB, Python, Linux) and data analysis is essential. Applicants without a strong interest in learning coding or computational methods should carefully consider whether our lab is the right fit. (Coding! Coding! Coding!)

Our lab is committed to supporting the academic and professional growth of graduate students. We encourage and assist students in applying for both internal and external funding opportunities. We also offer structured mentorship focused on long-term career development, academic networking, and collaborative research. Students in our lab are supported in producing high-quality publications and building a solid foundation for a career in academia or industry.

Please send your CV and related documents to email: zsha@mailbox.sc.edu


Undergraduate research assistants

Dr. Sha is currently accepting motivated undergraduate students. Given the computational nature of our work, we strongly encourage applicants who are interested in learning coding and biomedical data (e.g., MRI and genetic data). Students without a willingness to engage in programming (e.g., R, MATLAB, Python, Linux) are encouraged to carefully consider whether this experience aligns with their interests and goals. (Coding! Coding! Coding!)

Undergraduate students in the lab will have the opportunity to participate in various aspects of the research process, including data collection (e.g., medical imaging and blood-based biomarkers), data preprocessing, and paper publication. Students are expected to commit at least 10 hours per week to lab work. A minimum commitment of one year is recommended, and often required, to ensure meaningful training and contribution. Students aiming to first-author scientific publications should expect to invest additional time and effort.

Please send your CV and related documents to email: zsha@mailbox.sc.edu