UNIV - Research Specialist I - Department of Neurosciences

Medical University of South Carolina•Charleston, SC

About The Position

The Gowrishankar Lab at the Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina is seeking a Research Specialist 1 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. For more details on the Gowrishankar Lab’s research and vision, please visit: https://www.raajgowrishankarlab.org/ 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. This position is expected to start February 1, 2026.

Requirements

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 perform job functions in an upright position.
Ability to perform job functions in a seated position.
Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile.
Ability to climb, using step stool.
Ability to work in temperature extremes (32° F to 100° F) when required due to assignments in cold rooms and/or foreign countries.
Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces.
Ability to bend at the waist.
Ability to twist at the waist.
Ability to fully use both hands/arms.
Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders.
Ability to fully use both legs.
Ability to reach in all directions, stretch, bend, while moving items/materials from both sitting and standing positions.
Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function/distinction.
Ability to lift materials up to 20 lbs., unassisted.
Ability to lift and carry 4 liter waste material bottles a distance of 30 feet, unassisted.
Ability to lift and carry 25-30 lbs. jugs of liquid a distance of 100 feet, unassisted.
Ability to lift file boxes, from floor level to counter tops, unassisted.
Ability to push/ Ability to lift 40 lbs. centrifuge rotors from floor level to height of 40 inches, then down 20 inches into centrifuge drum, unassisted.
Ability to lift 25 lbs. boxes, from floor level to maximum height of 72 inches, unassisted.
Ability to push/pull file boxes from one location to another at floor level.
Ability to maneuver heavy equipment on bench tops, 50 lbs. or greater, unassisted.
Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements.
Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes.
Ability to match or discriminate between colors, normally.
Ability to hear and recognize various alarms emitting from work area systems.
Ability to hear and/or understand conversations.
Ability to work in a darkroom for processing film, etc.
Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and annually.
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

Experience in systems neuroscience techniques
Experience with animal husbandry, breeding and maintaining mouse colony
Experience with computational and statistical methods in programming languages such as MATLAB and PYTHON

Responsibilities

Surgical and Behavioral Procedures in Mice: The ideal candidate will learn and perform intracranial mouse surgeries for opto/chemogenetics, anatomical tracing, gene manipulation and fiber photometry experiments. The ideal candidate will also learn and conduct behavioral experimental procedures on these mice, including but not limited to 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.
General Lab Maintenance and Organization: The ideal candidate will inventory, order and maintain laboratory supplies and consumables, perform routine cleaning of laboratory and animal behavior space, clean glassware, and autoclave surgical supplies.
Animal Husbandry: The ideal candidate will learn and assist in providing basic husbandry care for animals that are breeding and part of experimental studies. They will also assist in monitoring and maintaining mouse lines to facilitate experimental studies.
Wet Lab Procedures with Tissue: The ideal candidate will learn and perform brain extractions and tissue collection. The ideal candidate will use this tissue to learn and perform a variety of ex-vivo techniques such as immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization.
Data Analyses: The ideal candidate will also 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.

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