The Norris Lab at WashU Medicine is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to join our dynamic research team housed in the Department of Anesthesiology. Our lab seeks to understand neural circuits governing stress responses, coping behaviors, sleep-arousal regulation, and metabolism. A major focus of our current research is delineating how specific neuronal populations within the supramammillary nucleus hypothalamus control active versus passive coping responses to stressors towards understanding psychiatric resilience and identifying novel therapeutic targets for mood and anxiety disorders. Our research leverages multiple complementary approaches: in vivo fiber photometry and optogenetic manipulation during behavioral paradigms to measure and perturb neural circuit activity during stress exposure; multi-fiber photometry recording to simultaneously track activity across interconnected brain regions; behavioral neuroscience paradigms (e.g., forced swim test, active avoidance, social stress) to quantify active vs. passive coping. This project is funded by a grant from the NIH. The successful candidate will drive independent and collaborative research projects. We value scientific excellence, rigorous methodology, open communication, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit.
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Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree