Post-Doctoral Associate (ENTO)

at  University of Minnesota

Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Neuroscience or Animal Behavior and Physiology.
Individuals may be immediate post-degree or returning for additional training, updating, and/or retooling. Limited to fields for which post-degree training is necessary for career entry.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Seeking a neuroethologist with a strong background in neuroendocrinology and physiology. Prefer someone with a history of studying invertebrates or lower vertebrate systems. Also, would prefer someone who has a long-standing interest in understanding the evolutionary and neurobiological aspects of animal behavior.
Technical skills
Experience designing and conducting behavioral experiments
Experience recording and analyzing electrical signals from the nervous system
Molecular techniques: PCR, qPCR, RNA extraction, cDNA construction
Histological neural tissue processing
Proficient in R and MATLAB

POSITION SUMMARY:

Post-Doctoral Associates conduct research and/or service that provides further development of career skills or allows them opportunities to learn new research techniques. They are trained by and work in conjunction with a faculty mentor who determines the training agenda.
The Mesce lab is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate to work on a study of locomotor restoration in the medicinal leech (Hirudo). The lab is housed in the Department of Entomology on the St Paul campus (U of M). Dr. Mesce is also affiliated with the Grad Program in Entomology and the Grad Program in Neuroscience. The goal of the research project is to understand how neural networks for locomotion, in the form of crawling, become remodeled after brain descending information is removed. The project will involve analyses at various levels of complexity, including changes in neuroanatomy, neuromodulators (especially dopamine), and gene expression. The individual will also monitor the recovery of locomotion at the behavioral level, and track the remodeling of identified stretch receptors during the course of locomotor recovery using cell-tracing techniques and immunohistochemistry. A variety of optical-imaging techniques will also be used to examine the functional activity of recovered ganglia in response to dopamine, which is a potent activator of crawling behavior.
Note: These are not positions to which permanent residency can be granted for international appointees.

(80%) Research and analysis related to locomotor recovery in the leech
(10%) Assisting with general lab maintenance, including purchasing lab-related items
(10%) Helping advise junior personnel or undergraduate students with their projects
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume (CV).
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.
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