UNIV - Post Doctoral Scholar - Department of Neuroscience

Medical University of South Carolina • Charleston, SC

10d • Onsite

About The Position

A lack of behavioral suppression is a hallmark of all substance use disorders, allowing drug-paired cues to initiate relapse despite negative consequences. The circuit from the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) to the nucleus accumbens shell (NAc) is necessary and sufficient to inhibit natural reward-seeking behavior, but how this circuit is adapted through drug use to facilitate drug seeking is unknown. The postdoctoral position will focus on examining this thalamo-accumbal circuit in heroin use disorder and the neurobiological adaptations that occur from the onset of drug use to increase susceptibility to relapse in a mouse model. Visit the Otis Lab website for more information, https://www.otis-lab.org/

Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid drivers license.
• Computer literacy.
• Ability to work rotating shifts as required.
• Ability to work overtime as required.
• Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent)
• Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent)
• Ability to work indoors. (Continuous)
• Ability to work in all cold temperature extremes, i.e. spot coolers. (Frequent)
• Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent)
• Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent)
• Ability to perform 'pinching' operations. (Continuous)
• Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous)
• Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous)
• Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous)
• Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous)
• Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous)
• Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous)
• Ability to lift and carry 15 lbs., unassisted. (Frequent)
• Ability to lift objects, up to 15 lbs., from floor level to height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Frequent)
• Ability to lower objects, up to 15 lbs., from height of 72 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Frequent)
• Ability to push/pull objects, up to 15 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent)
• Ability to lift and carry objects up to 15 lbs. a distance of five (5) floors and to outlying buildings. (Frequent)
• Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected. (Continuous)
• Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Continuous)
• Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Continuous)
• Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous)
• Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous)
• Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous)
• Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous)
• Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous)
• Ability to be qualified physically (by medical personnel) for respirator use, initially and annually.
• Ability to work alone in isolated areas, such as darkrooms. (Frequent)

Responsibilities

• Conducts drug self-administration behavioral studies, performs intracranial and catheter implantation surgeries in mice.
• Monitors catheter and cannula placement throughout and at the end of each study.
• Manages mouse breeding colonies to maintain appropriate levels of transgenic animals as needed for rodent studies.
• Performs 2-photon microscopy in combination with mouse behavior (imaging and stimulation with optogenetic constructs).
• Performs behavioral optogenetic and chemogenetic mouse experiments.
• Mentors and trains doctoral students in a multitude of lab techniques such as 2P calcium imaging, mouse self-administration used to study reward circuitry, mouse surgical procedures, behavioral optogenetics and chemogenetics.
• Keeps accurate and detailed records of experiments and results, and identifies and troubleshoots unexpected results.
• Observes and complies with safety standards and procedures.
• Works to develop and secure research funding (writing grants).
• Prepares manuscripts on results for publication.
• Works with a broad range of collaborators to deliver research in the area of addiction neuroscience.
• Identifies opportunities for publications and research funding.
• Analyses and presents data, and prepares abstracts and manuscripts for dissemination.
• Leads and collaborates on peer-reviewed journal submissions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level