Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Description:

Purpose

Seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral research fellow to join an energetic, productive, and supportive team. This fellow would lead studies focused on the cellular mechanisms that drive acute and chronic pain in sickle cell disease (an inherited red blood cell disorder), keratinocyte-sensory neuron signaling, and/or migraine headache. All opportunities are funded by two major NIH grants. This position will develop their electrophysiology skillset by regularly using patch clamp and in vivo or ex vivo teased fiber recordings. Additional techniques routinely used by the lab that are available to be learned include in vivo and in vitro calcium imaging, optogenetics, and spontaneous and evoked animal behavior assays. All opportunities are translationally relevant; the lab collaborates with clinicians from the major adjacent hospitals (Froedtert Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin) to develop clinically relevant basic science questions for each of these disease models and to utilize human tissues wherever possible. The lab also collaborates with basic scientists in their vibrant home department (Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy) and other departments at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The applicant will be encouraged to present at national and international scientific conferences and to apply for independent funding. As such, the candidate should be highly motivated, self-directed, and possess excellent communication and writing skills.

Primary Functions

• Design, execute, and analyze complex research procedures including skin nerve teased fiber recordings, patch clamp recordings of single neurons and other cell types, and behavioral assays.
• Perform calcium imaging on neurons, keratinocytes, and HEK293 cells.
• Develop or bring creative new methodologies to our lab related to optogenetics, electrophysiology, molecular biology, cell sniffer assays or animal behavior.
• Lead, mentor, and guide technicians, junior graduate students, and undergraduate students in the organization, perfrmance, and analysis of data.
• Participate in lab meetings to aid in interpretion of data, development of methodologies, and evaluation of lab procedures.
• Work efficiently in a team setting and activly participate in lab and department seminars, meetings, journal clubs, and team building exercises.
• Collaborate with others inside and outside the lab to advance collective research interests and provide expertise.
• Review scientific literature weekly to find new relevant material.
• Prepare first drafts of research proposals and first author manuscripts.
• Present scientific findings at local, national, and international meetings.
• Apply to competitive independent funding opportunities.
• Effectively communicate with other lab members through email and personal interactions.
• Edit other lab members’ and PI’s grants and manuscripts.
• Devise original scientific ideas and important research questions to pursue within the confines the lab’s funded research areas.
• Follow best laboratory practices and seek to improve current practices/methodology.

Knowledge – Skills – Abilities

High motivation, team player attitude and skills, excellent communication skills and a willingness to learn electrophysiology and calcium imaging is essential. Knowledge of scientific approach and methodologies in neuroscience, immunology and or molecular biology is helpful. Experience with animal models in mice or rats, experience with tissue culture techniques and fine tissue dissection techniques is preferred. 

Candidate must have strong motivation, team player attitude, and strong ability to design, organize, and coordinate scientific research projects. In addition, candidate must have previous laboratory experience including sound scientific practice in research, methodology development and accurate laboratory techniques, and the ability to read, understand, follow, and enforce safety procedures.

Preferred Schedule:

M-F

Position Requirements:

Minimum Required Education:               PhD in biomedical field

Minimum Required Experience:              No experience required

Preferred Education:                              Candidates should have a PhD in neuroscience, biology or related

                                                            biomedical science field. Interest in learning electrophysiology and

                                                            calcium imaging is required

Preferred Experience:                            Progressive knowledge and skill development

Field:                                                    Sensory neuroscience

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

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