Research Intern
About The Position
The Systems Neuroscience Laboratory is part of the Department of Biomedical Sciences within the Center for Neural Science and Medicine. The lab focuses on understanding motor behavior in both healthy and brain-injured rodent models using behavioral assays, electrophysiological recordings, and post-mortem tissue analysis. The laboratory is seeking a motivated Research Intern to support ongoing preclinical research projects. This role offers hands-on experience in rodent behavioral training, sleep and neurophysiologic recordings, machine-learning–based kinematic analysis, and histological evaluation of brain tissue. Role Responsibilities & Training Timeline Weeks 1–2: Onboarding & Foundations Complete required onboarding trainings (HealthStream, CITI) Learn fundamentals of preclinical research Review IACUC and BAR protocols Become familiar with laboratory operations and safety procedures Weeks 2–5: Behavioral Training & Sleep Recordings (Pre-Stroke Models) Assist with rodent handling and behavioral training Determine limb handedness for reach behavior Operate automated reach box systems Perform video recordings for offline behavioral analysis Assist with sleep recordings Weeks 6–9: Post-Stroke Behavioral & Neurophysiologic Recordings Support behavioral training in post-stroke rodent models Conduct kinematic reach analysis using machine-learning tools (e.g., DLC-based methods) Analyze reach trajectories, success rates, and velocity during recovery Assist with neurophysiologic recordings Learn spike sorting of single-unit neuronal data Weeks 10–12: Histology & Tissue Analysis Learn transcardial perfusion and euthanasia procedures under supervision Perform supervised perfusions Prepare and fix brain tissue for histological analysis Conduct histological evaluation of motor cortical and cerebellar regions Perform Nissl staining and imaging for tissue assessment Learning Objectives & Outcomes By the end of the internship, the Research Intern will: Gain foundational training in systems neuroscience research Develop hands-on experience in rodent handling and behavioral paradigms Assist with behavioral and neurophysiologic data collection Learn post-euthanasia perfusion and brain tissue processing Perform basic histological techniques, including slicing, mounting, staining, and imaging Use machine-learning methods for automated behavioral pose estimation Analyze motor behavior and recovery following stroke Gain exposure to imaging-based stroke volume quantification and neural probe localization
Responsibilities
- Assist with rodent handling and behavioral training
- Determine limb handedness for reach behavior
- Operate automated reach box systems
- Perform video recordings for offline behavioral analysis
- Assist with sleep recordings
- Support behavioral training in post-stroke rodent models
- Conduct kinematic reach analysis using machine-learning tools (e.g., DLC-based methods)
- Analyze reach trajectories, success rates, and velocity during recovery
- Assist with neurophysiologic recordings
- Learn spike sorting of single-unit neuronal data
- Learn transcardial perfusion and euthanasia procedures under supervision
- Perform supervised perfusions
- Prepare and fix brain tissue for histological analysis
- Conduct histological evaluation of motor cortical and cerebellar regions
- Perform Nissl staining and imaging for tissue assessment
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
