Research Technologist

POSITION SPECIFICS

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

This position is funded for 12 months; continuation past 12 months will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

The Borland lab (Johnathan M. Borland, Ph.D.) in the College of Health and Human Development is seeking a Research Technologist. The successful candidate will learn and perform a diversity of fundamental neuroscience approaches including but not limited to:

• Behavioral assays of social behavior and reward/motivation
• Fluorescent immunohistochemistry
• RNAscope
• Western blots
• In vivo micro pharmacology in the Syrian hamster model

The primary responsibility of this position is the execution of these wet lab and behavior experiments such as fluorescent immunohistochemistry, RNAscope and Western blots, in conjunction with the collection and analysis of data. These experiments will be both a part of independent projects led by this researcher and in support of the projects of graduate students in the lab.

Secondary responsibilities of this position include the maintenance of rodent housing facilities, the purchasing of laboratory supplies, and the maintenance of chemical inventories, rodent surgery records and drug records.

• The research technician will also be exposed to a diversity of more advanced neuroscience approaches utilized in the Borland lab including but not limited to…
• Rodent surgeries (e.g. ovariectomy and stereotaxic surgery)
• Circuit tracing
• Calcium and dopamine recording with fiber photometry
• Chemogenetic DREADDs
• Optogenetics
• CRISPR/Cas9
• Other molecular genetic and gene transfer approaches in Syrian hamsters.

Overall, the Borland lab investigates the neuronal and molecular mechanisms that regulate reward for social interactions. The laboratory is particularly focused on differences in mechanisms between males and females, such as mechanisms regulating the heightened sensitivity in females compared to males (Borland et al., Neuropsychopharmacology 2019). Specific mechanisms of immediate interest include the regulation of oxytocin, dopamine and glutamate transmission in the mesolimbic dopamine circuit, and mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and intracellular signaling.

The goal of this research is to advance understanding of the mechanisms regulating social behaviors, including reward for social behaviors; which will have implications in the treatment of disorders characterized by deficits in the social domain, such as anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, among others. The lab is currently funded by a generous start-up package from Penn State, a NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation and additional funding pending.

The lab plans to continue to be funded by both federal and private research grants. More information about the lab including past publications can be found here (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The laboratory is housed in the Department of Biobehavioral Health in the College of Health and Human Development at The Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. The research technician will be trained in a selection of the above listed approaches and will be mentored by the Principal Investigator in preparation of their next career goals. This will include the leading of experiments and projects when appropriate and/or the support of projects for graduate students in the lab.

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience or a related field is required.
• 1-3 years of previous research experience in a Neuroscience or a related field lab is preferred.
• This is a full-time position located at the University Park campus in State College, PA.

Bachelor's Degree. No prior relevant work experience required; previous relevant work experience accepted in lieu of education. Required

Certifications:

None.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background…