Neuroscience Research Scientist I — Reward Circuits

New York State Psychiatry Institute; New York (NY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits

Job summary

New York State Psychiatric Institute is seeking a Research Scientist I to advance experiments on how early-life adversity shapes reward processing and ventral pallidal-accumbal circuit mechanisms. The role combines developmental stress models in mice with behavioral assays, in vivo electrophysiology, optogenetics, viral tracing, and computational analysis.

The candidate will design longitudinal studies, perform surgeries, maintain mouse colonies, and develop analysis pipelines in Python, R or

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of professional research experience or a master's degree may substitute for one year of experience; PhD preferred.
• Experience with rodent models and longitudinal behavioral paradigms is desirable.
• Proficiency in data analysis programming languages (Python, R, MATLAB) is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Design and run longitudinal behavioral experiments, including developmental stress paradigms and reward-sensitivity assays.
• Perform stereotaxic surgery, viral delivery, and implantation of optical fibers and recording devices.
• Breed and maintain transgenic mouse colonies; conduct in vivo optogenetic, fiber photometry and electrophysiological experiments.
• Build analysis pipelines for behavioral, imaging and electrophysiological data in Python, R or MATLAB.
• Prepare figures and manuscripts; present at lab meetings and conferences.
• Supervise and train research technicians, undergraduate students and PhD students; ensure compliance with IACUC and safety records.

Skills

Research experience

Mice handling

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

Python

R

MATLAB

Job description

New York State Psychiatric Institute is seeking a Research Scientist I to advance experiments on how early-life adversity shapes reward processing and ventral pallidal-accumbal circuit mechanisms. The role combines developmental stress models in mice with behavioral assays, in vivo electrophysiology, optogenetics, viral tracing, and computational analysis.

The candidate will design longitudinal studies, perform surgeries, maintain mouse colonies, and develop analysis pipelines in Python, R or