RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Duke Careers•Durham, NC

About The Position

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,500 faculty physicians and researchers, more than 1,300 students, and more than 6,000 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System and the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) comprise Duke Health. a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations. A fully funded Research Scientist position is immediately available in the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Harward within the Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurobiology at the Duke University School of Medicine. We are seeking an exceptional, highly motivated scientist to take a senior, leadership role in advancing the development and application of focused ultrasound (FUS) for non-invasive neuromodulation, ablation, and targeted brain drug/gene delivery. This position is ideal for a candidate eager to lead independent, high-impact projects at the intersection of basic neuroscience, engineering, and clinical translation. The successful applicant will function as a senior scientific member of the lab, contributing intellectually to the lab’s direction while mentoring junior trainees and working closely with Dr. Harward to develop new research initiatives and competitive grant applications. The Harward Laboratory is a high-energy, collaborative translational neuroscience lab focused on understanding how synaptic plasticity contributes to neurological disease and how it can be precisely modulated to achieve disease modification (Harward et al., Nature 2016; Hedrick et al., Nature 2016; Krishnamurthy et al., Annals of Neurology 2019). A central focus of the lab is the development of focused ultrasound as a next-generation, non-invasive neuromodulation technology. While FUS is already FDA-approved for lesion-based treatment of Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s disease, emerging evidence demonstrates that lower-intensity paradigms can be used to transiently open the blood–brain barrier, modulate immune responses, and selectively influence neurons, interneurons, astrocytes, and microglia with sub-millimeter precision. Building on these advances, our lab seeks to optimize focused ultrasound as a therapeutic and investigative tool for a broad range of conditions, including epilepsy, neuropsychiatric disease, movement disorders, chronic pain, and brain tumors. To achieve these goals, we employ a diverse experimental toolkit including mouse genetics, viral strategies, in vitro and in vivo models, electrophysiology, calcium imaging, optogenetics, and focused ultrasound–based approaches. Dr. Stephen Harward is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurobiology and serves as the Director of Focused Ultrasound Research at the Duke University School of Medicine. He is a neurosurgeon-scientist whose clinical and research programs are centered on the development and application of novel neuromodulatory technologies. Clinically, Dr. Harward treats patients with Essential Tremor, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and epilepsy, and has extensive experience using a range of neuromodulatory therapies, including focused ultrasound. His laboratory integrates basic neuroscience discovery with direct clinical translation, offering a uniquely rich environment for scientists interested in impactful, patient-oriented research. Duke University provides an outstanding, highly collaborative research environment with strong institutional support for translational neuroscience, access to state-of-the-art core facilities, and close integration between basic science and clinical departments. This position offers substantial opportunities for scientific independence, leadership development, and career advancement within a growing neuromodulation research program

Requirements

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (e.g., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M.) in neuroscience, neurobiology, biomedical engineering, or a related biomedical field.
At least 5 years of postdoctoral research experience conducting independent scientific research.
Record of multiple peer-reviewed publications demonstrating significant and substantive scientific contributions.
Demonstrated ability to independently design and carry out complex experiments.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Background in neuroscience or translational neurobiology, particularly circuit-level or systems neuroscience.
Experience with one or more of the following: focused ultrasound, in vivo mouse models, electrophysiology, calcium imaging, viral approaches, optogenetics, or molecular biology techniques (DNA, RNA, protein, epigenetics).
Prior experience mentoring or supervising trainees.
Interest in clinically relevant or translational research and collaborative team science.

Responsibilities

Design, execute, and analyze independent research projects focused on focused ultrasound–based neuromodulation and brain circuit manipulation.
Serve as a scientific lead within the laboratory, providing mentorship and oversight for undergraduates, medical students, technicians, and junior trainees.
Collaborate closely with the PI to develop new research directions, experimental strategies, and translational applications.
Contribute substantively to grant writing (NIH and foundation-level) and manuscript preparation.
Present research findings at lab meetings, departmental seminars, and national/international scientific conferences.
Help maintain a rigorous, collaborative, and intellectually vibrant lab environment.

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