UNIV - Research Specialist I - Department of Neurosciences

Medical University of South Carolina•Charleston, SC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Gowrishankar Lab at the Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina is seeking a Research Specialist I to join our laboratory as a technician. This position is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and concepts, gain comprehensive research experience and contribute to new discoveries in the field of systems neuroscience. The Gowrishankar lab endeavors to uncover the neurobiological basis of motivated behaviors and how these basic mechanisms go awry in mouse models of substance use disorders, major depressive disorders and chronic pain. The lab utilizes a variety of systems neuroscience techniques including anatomical tracing, in-situ hybridization, opto- and chemo-genetics, and in vivo two-photon imaging. Only prior experience in mouse handling is required; however, enthusiasm for neuroscience research, and motivation to generate new ideas and learn new skills should be present. The ideal individual for this position is an organized, detail-oriented, and intrinsically motivated person with basic knowledge of neuroscience fundamentals and research techniques. They will be able to learn new research skills, provide experimental assistance, when necessary, contribute to research manuscripts and work well within a team. Training will be provided by the PI (Dr. Raaj Gowrishankar) on all aspects of the job description. This position is perfect for a recent college graduate with a degree in a STEM-related discipline to gain additional research experience before moving on to graduate or medical school. This person will be part of a new and dynamic research laboratory and will take ownership in laying the groundwork for the best lab practices and working environment for future lab members.

Requirements

Prior experience in mouse handling is required.
Basic knowledge of neuroscience fundamentals and research techniques.
A high school diploma and two years work experience in a clinical or research setting; a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or other natural, life or health care science may be substituted for the two years of required experience.
Ability to work rotating shifts as required.
Ability to work overtime as required.
Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required.

Nice To Haves

Enthusiasm for neuroscience research.
Motivation to generate new ideas and learn new skills.
Organized, detail-oriented, and intrinsically motivated person.
Ability to learn new research skills.
Ability to provide experimental assistance, when necessary.
Ability to contribute to research manuscripts.
Ability to work well within a team.

Responsibilities

Learn and perform intracranial mouse surgeries for opto/chemogenetics, anatomical tracing, gene manipulation and fiber photometry experiments.
Learn and conduct behavioral experimental procedures on mice, including mouse operant self-administration studies, mouse operant drug-self administration studies, mouse behavioral assays to study the impact of chronic pain, and depressive-like behavior.
Inventory, order and maintain laboratory supplies and consumables.
Perform routine cleaning of laboratory and animal behavior space.
Clean glassware and autoclave surgical supplies.
Learn and assist in providing basic husbandry care for animals that are breeding and part of experimental studies.
Assist in monitoring and maintaining mouse lines to facilitate experimental studies.
Learn and perform brain extractions and tissue collection.
Use collected tissue to learn and perform a variety of ex-vivo techniques such as immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization.
Learn and assist in the analysis of the data collected from these procedures using computational and statistical analyses in programming languages such as MATLAB and Python.