Postdoctoral fellow in Neurocognitive Aging

Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 63,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellow to advance interdisciplinary studies in a rat model of cognitive aging. The lab collaborates with senior scientists and aims at translational insights into memory impairment and Alzheimer’s disease research.

The successful candidate will design experiments, collect and analyze diverse data, and contribute to manuscript preparation and publication across multiple projects.

Qualifications

• Strong neuroscience background and familiarity with systems neuroscience methods.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong experimental and statistical training; ability to write papers, grants, and protocols.
• Prior computational experience is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Involved in study design, data collection (behavioral, pharmacological, imaging, coding).
• Data analysis and manuscript preparation; will be an author on publications.
• Work across projects investigating hippocampal circuits and aging in a rat model.

Skills

Neuroscience

Systems neuroscience methods

Communication skills

Scientific writing

Computational skills

Education

Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Cellular Biology, or related discipline

Job description

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first research university and home to nine world-class academic divisions working together as one university.

Salary : $63,480-$65,000

Description

Audrey Branch's lab, newly launched in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, is currently accepting applications for a postdoctoral research fellow who will further diverse interdisciplinary studies in a rat model of cognitive aging in a well-established and highly regarded research program which includes Drs. James Knierim, Paul Worley, Alfredo Kirkwood, and Ni Zhao as close collaborators. Our ongoing research in rodents is focused on the functional properties of hippocampal circuits using behavioral, neural recording, and cellular/anatomical methods. The research program provides a highly collaborative environment among an outstanding group of senior scientists in basic research and contact with direct translational clinical applications in age-related memory impairment in humans and prodromal Alzheimer’s disease in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Current research projects investigate:

• (1) the relationship between excitation/inhibition balance in the aging brain and cognitive performance
• (2) mechanistic characterization of novel therapeutic approaches to improve cognition in aging
• (3) single nucleus sequencing for identification of selectively vulnerable hippocampal cell types
• (4) viral targeting and manipulation of hippocampal circuitry

Opportunities will be provided for training in a variety of neuroscience methods including animal models of cognitive aging, approaches for translational neuroscience, molecular biology, viral targeting, computational approaches for sequencing analysis, and whole brain clearing (iDISCO), imaging, and analysis.

The postdoctoral fellow will be involved in all aspects of the research projects, including study design, collection of data (behavioral, pharmacological, imaging, coding), data analysis, and manuscript preparation and will be an author on all publications/studies on which they worked.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a strong neuroscience background and familiarity with relevant methods for systems neuroscience research. The applicant should be highly motivated, have excellent communication skills, and enjoy working independently as well as collaboratively. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Cellular Biology, or a related discipline when they start.

Successful applicants will have demonstrated research interests in experimental cognitive neuroscience, strong experimental and statistical training, and ability to write papers, grants, and protocols. Strong computational skills and experience are highly desired. A record of publishing research is preferred but not required.

The initial appointment is for one year to be renewed yearly depending on mutual satisfaction and availability of funds. Salary is based on NIH scale plus benefits.

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The University is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at [e-mail] . For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations at Johns Hopkins University for disabilities, medical conditions (including medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), accessibility, or religious reasons, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu .

Background Checks

After receiving a conditional offer, the successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification. When deciding whether a candidate’s conviction history is job-disqualifying, the University considers the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job being sought.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/employees-job-applicants

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine.

Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine (for SOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude them from receiving the vaccine. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional vaccine requirements may apply, depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring department for more information.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those candidates who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.