Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title Postdoctoral Research Associate Agency Texas  A&M University Health Science Center Department Neuroscience  & Experimental Therapeutics Proposed Minimum Salary $4,166.67 monthly

Job Location Bryan, Texas Job Type Staff Job  Description Our Commitment Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are:
Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who we areAs one of the fastest-growing academic health centers in the nation, Texas A&M Health encompasses five colleges and numerous centers and institutes working together to improve health through transformative education, innovative research and team-based health care delivery.

What we want

The Postdoctoral Research Associate, under general supervision, is responsible for conducting research into their field of expertise. This position will study the roles of the basal ganglia and corticostriatal circuit mechanisms underlying substance use disorders and neurodegenerative disease using rodent models. Research in the lab utilizes state-of-the-art technologies, including oral and intravenous alcohol and drug self-administration in operant chambers, in vivo optogenetic and chemo genetic manipulation, slice electrophysiology, viral and rodent genetics, confocal imaging to investigate circuit mechanisms of addiction and neurodegenerative disorders.

What you need to know Travel:
This position may require travel.

Schedule:

This position may require work beyond normal office hours and/or work on weekends.

Please note:

This position is grant funded; future employment may be contingent upon future funding.

Responsibilities:

Research Under general supervision, is responsible for conducting research into their field of expertise.

Design research experiments.

Writes and may contribute to research papers, articles, and publications.

Train rats and mice to self-administer alcohol, cocaine, or opioids (e.g., morphine or fentanyl) using operant chambers.

Perform slice electrophysiology recordings (e.g., whole-cell patch clamp) to assess synaptic and intrinsic properties.

Design and execute fiber photometry experiments to monitor population calcium dynamics during behavior.

Conduct stereotaxic surgeries for viral delivery and implantation (cannula, optical fiber, or electrode).Analyze electrophysiology and photometry data using appropriate software and statistical methods.

Conduct selected behavioral assays (e.g., operant self-administration or conditioned place preference) as needed to support circuit-level studies.

Lab

Specific Duties Conduct stereotaxic infusion of virus or other neuronal tracers.

Perform intracardial perfusion and brain fixation.

Perform brain sectioning using vibratome or cryostat.

Mount brain section and acquire section image using confocal microscope.

Analyze confocal images using Imaris and other programs

Presentations

Prepares presentation materials on research topic that may be presented to small and/or large groups.

Actively participates in the preparation of required technical progress reports to research sponsors.

Construct graphs with analyzed data. Write manuscript and rebuttal letters.

Mentoring May assist, mentor, and/or supervise student researchers and/or graduate students who are working on research related to the project.

Qualifications:

Required

Education and Experience:

Appropriate PhD in neuroscience or related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

1-3 years of research experience after obtaining Ph.D. degree.

Prior in-depth experience with rodent behavioral assay, including operant self-administration of alcohol or…