Research Scientist I
About The Position
The Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene is seeking a full-time Research Scientist I/Postdoctoral Researcher for the Anacker lab at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. The role uses in vivo brain imaging and rodent models to investigate neural circuits associated with vulnerability and resilience to stress. Research includes mouse models of social stress and early life adversity, circuit tracing, optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulation, in vivo calcium imaging, and biosensors to observe neurotransmitter changes in freely moving mice during fear generalization and cognitive flexibility tasks. The position works collaboratively within the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University and NYSPI and contributes to research from project development and experimental design through analysis, presentation, and publication.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree and two years of professional research experience in an appropriate field; a master's degree in an appropriate field may substitute for one year of experience; or a Ph.D.
- Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply.
Nice To Haves
- Neuroscience or a related field.
- At least two years of experience working with rodents.
- At least one year of experience with rodent stereotactic brain surgery for virus injection and/or implantation surgeries.
- More than one year of experience using either optogenetic or in vivo imaging techniques in the rodent brain.
- Basic skills using MATLAB or Python for analysis of in vivo imaging data.
- Basic skills using R to analyze RNA sequencing data.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate within the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
- Conduct stereotaxic surgeries for viral injections and fiber-optic implantations into the mouse brain.
- Conduct mouse behavioral experiments, including fear generalization and cognitive flexibility tasks.
- Perform optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulation of neural circuits in freely moving mice.
- Conduct in vivo calcium imaging of neural activity and neurotransmitter release in the mouse brain during behavioral tasks.
- Maintain transgenic mouse colonies and perform mouse genotyping.
- Perform immunohistochemistry and fluorescence microscopy.
- Independently conduct and manage daily experimental procedures.
- Analyze and interpret in vivo imaging data using MATLAB and/or Python.
- Apply statistical analysis using SPSS, R, and GraphPad.
- Contribute to project development, including conceptual framing, experimental design, conducting experiments, and analyzing data.
- Present scientific findings at conferences and scientific meetings.
- Prepare and publish research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Benefits
- Excellent benefits package.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
