Postdoctoral Associate in Neural Control of Breathing & Spinal Cord Injury

University of Florida • Gainesville, FL

17d

About The Position

The Respiratory Neural Control Lab, led by Dr. Elisa Gonzalez-Rothi, is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our interdisciplinary team. Our research focuses on neural control of breathing and upper airway function, particularly in the context of spinal cord injury (SCI). Funded by NIH and DoD grants, current projects explore how combining acute intermittent hypoxia (tAIH) with task-specific training (e.g., exercise, electrical stimulation) can enhance respiratory recovery after chronic cervical SCI. We also investigate swallowing dysfunction post-SCI to improve diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia-related respiratory complications. The Postdoctoral Associate will contribute to NIH- and DoD-funded translational research projects focused on understanding and restoring respiratory and upper airway function following cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). The position involves conducting preclinical studies using rodent models to explore neuroplasticity-based therapies—such as therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia (tAIH), physical exercise and diaphragm/phrenic nerve stimulation. The postdoctoral associate will be expected to work independently, show initiative in advancing research aims, and contribute to the lab’s collaborative and translational research environment.

Requirements

• PhD in neuroscience, physiology, rehabilitation science, biomedical engineering, or a related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative research team.
• Strong attention to detail and adherence to safety protocols.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

• 4 years of laboratory experience working with rodents.
• Strong record of research productivity (e.g., peer-reviewed publications and presentations).
• Prior experience in rodent handling, with preference for those trained in surgical techniques, nerve/EMG recordings, or electrophysiological assessments.
• Previous experience with rodent survival surgery, spinal cord injury models, whole-body plethysmography, electrical stimulation, and immunohistochemistry or RNAscope.
• Demonstrated interest in pursuing extramural funding (e.g., NIH F32, K99) or prior fellowship support.

Responsibilities

• Performing in vivo electrophysiology, EMG recordings, and whole body plethysmography to assess respiratory and upper airway motor output.
• Conducting rodent survival surgeries, including cervical SCI induction and chronic implantation for stimulation/recording.
• Leading studies involving combinatorial approaches to treating breathing impairments after spinal cord injury, including therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia, respiratory task-specific training/exercise, and closed-loop neuromuscular stimulation.
• Assisting with video fluoroscopy swallow studies and related analyses of swallow coordination.
• Preparing tissue for and performing histology, immunohistochemistry, and RNAscope to examine neural circuit reorganization.
• Analyzing complex datasets using appropriate statistical and morphometric methods.
• Maintaining detailed experimental records, managing datasets, and adhering to all lab and institutional compliance protocols.
• Preparing manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations for conferences and peer-reviewed publication.
• Contributing to grant writing, progress reports, and protocol development.
• Assisting with mentorship of junior lab members (e.g., graduate students, undergraduates, technicians).
• Actively participating in lab meetings, journal clubs, and collaborative team discussions

Benefits

• Postdoctoral associates are eligible for comprehensive health and leave benefits and have access to libraries and other research resources available for faculty and postdoctoral associates.
• Additionally, postdoctoral trainees may receive funds each training year to support professional development (e.g., travel to workshops or national conferences, purchase of education materials).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees