Postdoctoral Fellow- MCG-Pharmacology & Toxicology

Postdoctoral Fellow - MCG-Pharmacology & Toxicology

Job : 297206

Location: Augusta University

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Our Health Sciences Campus: 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912

Our Summerville Campus: 2500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904

Pharmacology and Toxicology was established as a department at the Medical College of Georgia in 1943. Originally developed to discover how remedies and poisons effected man, modern pharmacology lays the groundwork to discover and develop future generations of therapeutics. Pharmacology's scope has broadened to include computer-assisted drug design; genetic screens; protein engineering; and new drug-delivery vehicles like viruses and artificial cells.

The department's history of accomplishments includes the discovery of the adrenergic receptor subtypes-alpha and beta which led to developing several drugs used to treat cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular and neuroscience studies are the focuses of the department's research programs. Raymond P. Ahlquist, working in this Department, first defined alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in 1948. This discovery eventually led to the development of beta blocker drugs for hypertension and heart disease.

A training position designed to carry out advanced independent research to achieve the objectives of the research project, ensuring consistency with established methodological approaches and models, adherence to project timelines and completeness of documentation. Participate in research data collection and analysis, develop and evaluate new research techniques and procedures, conduct studies of related literature, and write and publish articles in scientific journals.

Specifically, contributing knowledge and expertise to ongoing NIH-funded research projects that investigate the mechanisms of the interactions of HIV-1 Tat protein with cocaine and monoamine transporters or with methamphetamine and vesicular monoamine transporter.

• Participate in project planning and development of research protocols while ensuring adherence to accepted scientific research principles and compliance with relevant federal guidelines.
• Analyze results of experiments and procedures using manual or computer techniques and, if necessary, develop special computer programs to facilitate analysis. Teach and participate in complex bacteriological, chemical and/or radio-chemical qualitative and quantitative analysis; macro and micro serological, histologic and cell culture procedures. Perform in vitro and ex vivo experiments, maintain animal colony, and conduct animal behavior assessments.
• Coordinate and participate in research of scientific literature, summarize and evaluate findings, and develop derivative applications of techniques developed by own research activities or reported by other research projects. Present findings at scientific meetings locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Compose articles for publication in scientific journals; review articles prepared by others.
• Supervise and coordinate activities of students, graduate assistants and other research personnel engaged in research activities and/or related laboratory work. Advise principal investigators, other postdocs, students and other research personnel on research techniques, procedures and other technological aspects of research activities.
• Calibrate, troubleshoot, repair, and operate microscopes, computer-linked analytical equipment, dedicated computers and other complex scientific equipment. Instruct others in operation of equipment.

• Ph.D. or equivalent from an accredited college or university.

• PH.D. in Neuroscience, neuropharmacology, behavior pharmacology or related discipline.
• Training and interest in regulation of monoamine transporters are encouraged to apply. Experience in cell culture, Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), rodent behavior testing (cognitive, depressive and drug rewarding effects), or neuropharmacology is desirable.
• Expertise in neuropharmacology or neuroscience, which could have been gained during the normal course of a doctoral degree program,…