Postdoctoral Scholar - Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics

The Pennsylvania State University; Hershey (PA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Opportunities for publishing

Dynamic research environment

Job summary

A leading university in Pennsylvania is seeking a motivated postdoc for neuroscience research involving GLP-1R agonists and addiction studies. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field and expertise in animal behavior tracking. Advanced skills in deep learning algorithms and circuit manipulation are preferred. The role offers opportunities to collaborate on NIH-funded projects and to contribute to impactful research in a dynamic team environment.

Qualifications

• PhD-level systems neuroscientist with expertise in animal behavior tracking.
• Experience in circuit manipulation or recording is highly desirable.
• Background in computer programming and neuroinformatics tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on the influence of GLP-1R agonists on addiction.
• Utilize advanced techniques for animal behavior tracking.
• Collaborate with a strong research team and publish findings.

Skills

Animal behavior tracking

Deep learning algorithms

Optogenetics

Chemogenetics

Fiber photometry

Computer programming

Neuroinformatics tools

Education

PhD in Neuroscience or related field

Tools

Med Associates operant conditioning apparatus

DSI telemetry

TDT fiber photometry

Matlab

Python

Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

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• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

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 is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Grigson lab at Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA is looking for a highly motivated postdoc who is willing to embrace new approaches to important questions in neuroscience.

We have multiple NIH‑funded projects to study the influence of FDA‑approved GLP‑1R agonists on drug seeking and reinstatement in rodents. A newly funded NIH R01 has the goal to determine who may be vulnerable to developing substance use disorders, when, how, why, and what might be done about it. Here, we will use the aversive behavioral and neurochemical response to the intraoral (IO) delivery of a drug‑paired taste cue (i.e., conditioned withdrawal) to track the development of addiction in the most vulnerable male and female rats and to test the hypothesis that engagement of, not only reward substrates, but also homeostatic need substrates, contributes to the catastrophic transition from liking and wanting drug to needing drug early in the development of the disease.

Techniques that will be used in this project include intraoral catheter fluid delivery, video monitoring of facial responses (i.e., gapes), operant conditioning (Med Associates), telemetry for anterior digastric muscle activation (DSI, Harvard), and in vivo fiber photometry (TDT).

We are particularly looking for a PhD‑level systems neuroscientist with expertise in animal behavior tracking using deep learning algorithms and their causal link with specific neural circuits. Expertise in circuit manipulation (e.g., optogenetics, chemogenetics) and/or recording (e.g., fiber photometry) is highly desirable. However, candidates with other experimental and/or data skills are welcome to apply. Experience in computer programming (e.g., Matlab, Python) and neuroinformatics tools is a plus but not required. Previous work with rats and basic surgical experience is strongly recommended.

We aim to build a strong research team with complementary expertise. Furthermore, we have several ongoing projects that bring different expertise and provide ample opportunities to publish with leading experts in different fields of neuroscience.

Eligible candidates should send a CV including the names of three professional references and a brief statement of research and career plan with technical skills.

BACKGROUND CHECKS / CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees designed to support both personal and professional well‑being.

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EEO IS THE LAW

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