Postdoctoral Associate

Goduke; Durham, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke University is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate to join a collaborative, interdisciplinary research team focused on migraine, pain mechanisms, and neuroimmune interactions. You will contribute to imaging, molecular work, and data analytics in a dynamic biomedical setting.

You will design experiments, analyze complex datasets, and help translate basic science discoveries into advances in human health. This role offers growth within a leading academic medical center.

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, or a closely related scientific field.
• Experience conducting independent biomedical research.
• Evidence of scientific productivity through publications, manuscripts, presentations, or related scholarly contributions.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and conduct independent research studies investigating migraine and pain mechanisms.
• Develop and execute experimental strategies that integrate cellular, molecular, imaging, and behavioral approaches.
• Contribute scientific insights that advance understanding of neurobiology, neuroinflammation, and pain signaling pathways.
• Perform rodent behavioral assays to evaluate pain-related outcomes.
• Conduct in vivo miniscope imaging and in vitro/ex vivo calcium imaging experiments.
• Perform tissue and cellular imaging analyses using advanced microscopy techniques.
• Analyze imaging datasets and behavioral outcomes to generate meaningful scientific conclusions.

Skills

Independent research

Biomedical research

Data analysis (R/Python/MATLAB)

Miniscope imaging

Rodent handling

Stereotaxic injections

Calcium imaging

Education

PhD, MD, or equivalent

Tools

Confocal microscopy

RNAscope

ELISA

Patch-clamp

Job description

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School of Medicine Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke.

Postdoctoral Associate, Migraine and Pain Research

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As a Postdoctoral Associate, you will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary research team dedicated to advancing our understanding of migraine, pain mechanisms, neuroimmune interactions, and nervous system function. Your expertise, curiosity, and commitment to scientific discovery will help drive innovative research with the potential to improve human health. In this role, you'll work alongside scientists, trainees, and research partners in a dynamic environment that values creativity, rigorous scholarship, and collaboration. You'll have opportunities to develop new skills, contribute to high-impact publications, and expand your professional growth while making meaningful contributions to biomedical science.

Be Bold.

Join a research program focused on uncovering the cellular, molecular, and neural mechanisms underlying migraine and chronic pain. You'll leverage cutting-edge imaging technologies, behavioral neuroscience approaches, molecular techniques, and data analytics to answer important scientific questions and advance translational discoveries.

What You'll Do:

Lead Innovative Research

• Design, develop, and conduct independent research studies investigating migraine and pain mechanisms.
• Develop and execute experimental strategies that integrate cellular, molecular, imaging, and behavioral approaches.
• Contribute scientific insights that advance understanding of neurobiology, neuroinflammation, and pain signaling pathways.

Conduct Behavioral and Imaging Studies

• Perform rodent behavioral assays to evaluate pain-related outcomes.
• Conduct in vivo miniscope imaging and in vitro/ex vivo calcium imaging experiments.
• Perform tissue and cellular imaging analyses using advanced microscopy techniques.
• Analyze imaging datasets and behavioral outcomes to generate meaningful scientific conclusions.

Perform Laboratory Research Techniques

• Culture mast cells, sensory neurons, glial cells, and other relevant cell types.
• Conduct stereotaxic surgical procedures and targeted injections in mouse models.
• Support viral vector delivery and molecular, biochemical, histological, and cellular experiments.
• Utilize laboratory techniques that support hypothesis-driven neuroscience research.

Analyze and Interpret Data

• Process, interpret, and visualize scientific data using tools such as R, Python, MATLAB, or similar analytical platforms.
• Create publication-quality figures, summaries, and presentations that communicate research findings effectively.
• Maintain organized, accurate, and reproducible research records.

Advance Scientific Discovery

• Collaborate on manuscripts, scientific publications, conference abstracts, presentations, grant proposals, and progress reports.
• Share findings with multidisciplinary team members and the broader scientific community.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Support Research Excellence

• Adhere to all institutional requirements related to animal care, biosafety, research integrity, and responsible conduct of research.
• Promote scientific rigor, reproducibility, ethical research practices, and data integrity in all aspects of work.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

Postdoctoral Associate

• PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, or a closely related scientific field.
• Experience conducting independent biomedical research.
• Evidence of scientific productivity through publications, manuscripts, presentations, or related scholarly contributions.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates may bring experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Calcium imaging, fluorescence imaging, or advanced microscopy techniques.
• Rodent handling, behavioral testing, and/or surgical procedures.
• Data analysis and quantitative methods using R, Python, MATLAB, or similar platforms.
• Miniscope imaging acquisition and analysis.
• Ex vivo imaging of nervous system tissues.
• Cell culture techniques.
• Mouse models related to migraine, chronic pain, or neuroinflammation.
• Stereotaxic injections and neurosurgical methodologies.
• TRP ion channels, migraine biology, trigeminal signaling, and neuroimmune interactions.
• Electrophysiology, including whole-cell patch-clamp recording.
• Confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, RNAscope, ELISA, and quantitative image analysis.
• Scientific writing, grant development, manuscript preparation, and presentation development.

What Sets You Apart

You are:

• Curious and motivated by scientific discovery.
• Dependable and highly organized.
• Enthusiastic about working in a collaborative research environment.
• Comfortable learning new techniques and adapting to evolving research needs.
• Skilled at troubleshooting complex experiments and solving scientific challenges.
• Passionate about integrating diverse datasets to advance understanding of human health and disease.
• Committed to ethical research practices, scientific rigor, and reproducibility.

Choose Duke.

At Duke, you'll find a vibrant academic and research community where bold ideas, breakthrough discoveries, and meaningful collaboration thrive. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all team members can contribute their unique perspectives and reach their full potential. Whether you're advancing innovative neuroscience research, building new scientific collaborations, or developing the next generation of discoveries, Duke offers the resources, mentorship, and community to help you succeed.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.