Post-Doctoral Fellow - Pharmacology and Toxicology

Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University is seeking an early-stage postdoctoral fellow to support R01-funded research on alcohol use disorder, focusing on neuronal function and circuit activity. The role requires electrophysiology experience, data analysis skills, and the ability to train others in a collaborative lab setting.

The selected candidate will work at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the School of Medicine, performing recordings and maintaining lab equipment, with a fully

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in pharmacology or related field.
• Experience with electrophysiology and rodent handling.
• Ability to train others in a research lab.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain brain slice or cell culture experiments; operate electrophysiology recording systems.
• Perform and assist with whole-cell patch clamp recordings; prepare solutions and reagents; collect and organize data.
• Train graduate and undergraduate students; support data analysis and manuscript preparation.
• Engage in safe and compliant lab practices and contribute to collaborative research.

Skills

electrophysiology

data analysis

training others

communication

Education

Ph.D. in pharmacology or related field

Tools

pClamp

Clampfit

Job description

At VCU, we take pride in our deep commitment to our postdoctoralcommunity. In 2026, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) named VCU as one of only 12 recipients of its inauguralInstitutional Policy Awards, in recognition of ourtransformative efforts to elevate quality of life and workplaceequity for postdocs.

VCU postdocs are Virginia state employees, with benefits mirroring12-month faculty. We adhere closely to the NPA’s guidelines for best practices in postdoc training. Wework closely with our local NPA chapter, the VCU PostdocAssociation, to make this a welcoming and productive place tocomplete your training!

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is apremier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond.Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the Schoolof Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care andeducation. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunityemployer.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Pharmacology and Toxicology

Department Summary:

The Department of Pharmacology andToxicology of Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to anoutstanding education of professional and graduate students as wellas to cutting edge research. The atmosphere of the department isone of congeniality and collaboration. Alumni of the departmenthave achieved prominent roles in academia, industry, andgovernment. The goal of the department is to contribute to improvedhealth through a better understanding of the mechanism of action ofsafer and more effective therapies. The education of graduatestudents and postdoctoral fellows who have the potential to becomeindependent, highly regarded scientists and excellent teachers inpharmacology is a priority.

Position Summary:

Seeking to recruit an early-stagepostdoctoral researcher with experience in electrophysiology. Thisindividual will be expected to support R01-funded research onalcohol use disorder, with a focus on neuronal function and circuitactivity. Responsibilities will include preparing experimentalmaterials, performing and assisting with electrophysiologicalrecordings, maintaining laboratory equipment, and organizingexperimental data. Candidate should have strong technical,organizational, and communication skills, along with experience inelectrophysiology, data analysis, and general laboratoryprocedures.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Preparing and maintaining brain slice or cell culture experiments,operating electrophysiology recording systems, performing andassisting with whole-cell patch clamp recording procedures.
• Responsibilities include preparing solutions and reagents,maintaining laboratory equipment, collecting and organizingexperimental data, supporting data analysis and preparation ofmanuscripts for publication.
• Responsibilities will also includeanimal (mouse) handling and general laboratory organization toensure efficient day-to-day research operations.
• The successfulcandidate will be expected to engage in training of graduatestudent and undergraduate trainees.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in pharmacology or related field.
• Demonstrated experiencewith at least one form of electrophysiology and also with rodenthandling (including drug administration).
• Proven record of trainingothers in a research laboratory environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Candidates will be expected to have familiarity with dataacquisition and analysis software, such as pClamp and Clampfit.
• Prior hands-on experience with whole-cell patch clamp recordings inbrain slices or cultured neurons is not required but, if notalready acquired, a clear interest in developing this skill-set isstrongly preferred.
• Candidates with a demonstrated record ofresearch related to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor pharmacologyand biology, or alcohol-use disorder will be strongly preferred.
• Additional desirable qualifications include strong organizationaland communication skills (including a track-record of publication),experience with rodent handling and basic histological techniquessuch as immunohistochemistry, and the ability to work independentlywhile contributing effectively to a collaborative researchenvironment.

Salary Range:

$63,480 – $63,900

Benefits:

All VCU employee types are eligible for a widearray of benefits to support you during your employment at VCU.Consult the benefits website for information on benefits eligibility according to employeetype.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

This is a restricted position with no set end date; continuedemployment is dependent upon project need, availability of funding,and performance.

University Job Title: Post-Doctoral Fellow

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Paul Whiteaker,Ph.D.
Contact Email: [e-mail]