Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Psychology

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all pers p ectives, talents & lived experience s . Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our corevalues which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service .

Who We Are

The Department of Psy c hological and Brain Sciences is engaged in research that falls into all five graduate areas of specialization:

• Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience

• Clinical Psy c hology

• Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Psy c hology

• Industrial/Organizational Psy c hology

• Social & Personality Psy c hology

  In addition to the Department of Psy c hological and Brain Science’s 5 areas of specialization, we have overlapping research interests that bridge traditional areas of psy c hology. These primary research themes include Affective Science; Diversity Science; Neuroscience; Personality and Individual Differences. To learn more please visit our site at https://artsci.tamu.edu/ psy c hological-brain-sciences/index.html (https://artsci.tamu.edu/psychological-brain-sciences/index.html)

  What We Want

In the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences' Swinford-Jackson laboratory, the Postdoctoral Research Associate will investigate the molecular mechanisms of drug craving. We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate who is highly motivated, attentive to detail, and a rigorous and creative scientist with interests in elucidating the neurocircuitry and neurobiology underlying aspects of methamphetamine craving. Major techniques used in the laboratory will include rodent behavioral assays, rodent in vivo surgery, single nuclei sequencing approaches, qPCR and other molecular biology approaches, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy. If the description sounds exciting to you, we invite you to apply to be considered for this opportunity to join our team.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate based on the selected candidate's education and experience.

Special Note: Due to this position’s salary having all or a portion of it being funded by grants or contracts, the continuing salary and overall employment is contingent upon availability of these funds in the future.

Required Education and Experience:

• Appropriate Ph.D.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Psychology, Biology or related field

• Experience in rodent surgical techniques

• Experience with rodent handling and/or behavioral paradigms

• Experience with protein biochemistry and/or molecular biology techniques, including but not limited to immunohistochemistry, Western blot, qPCR, RNA sequencing, etc.

• Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills

• Highly motivated and attentive to detail

• Strong interpersonal skills to engage in a collaborative environment

Responsibilities:

• Experimental Research: Perform rodent surgeries including intravenous catheterization and stereotactic viral vector and/or implant delivery. Perform rodent behavioral assays including drug self-administration. Perform molecular biology experiments including qPCR and single nuclei sequencing. Perform immunohistochemistry and/or RNAScope and imaging by microscopy

• Data Collection, Maintenance, Analysis, and Presentation: Collect, record, maintain and analyze experimental data. Prepare presentations of results for lab meetings and conferences. Prepare manuscripts for publication of research results.

• Professional Development and Scientific Engagement: Attend and present at lab meetings and journal clubs. Attend and present at national and international conferences. Develop independent research project and apply for funding (as applicable). Participate in other scientific and professional development opportunities (as applicable).

• General Lab Duties: Assist in managing rat colonies, including breeding, genotyping, and recordkeeping. Supervise undergraduate research assistants.

  Why Texas A&M University?

  We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes. 

• Medical, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/medical/) prescription drug, dental, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/dental/) vision, life and AD&D, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/life-add/) flexible spending accounts , and long-term disability insurance (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/long-term-disability/) with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

• 12- 15 days (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/index.html) of annual paid holidays

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/paid/sick.html)  and at least  eight hours of paid vacation (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/paid/vacation.html)   each month

• Automatically enrollment in the  Teacher Retirement System of Texas (https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx)

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time (https://flourish.tamu.edu/wellness-release-time/)

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free  LinkedIn Learning (https://linkedinlearning.tamu.edu/)  training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more

• Educational release time and tuition assistance (https://livingwell.tamu.edu/employee-tuition-assistance)   for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

• Living Well, (https://livingwell.tamu.edu/) a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.