Post-Doctoral Fellow - Dept. of Psychiatry

Post-Doctoral Fellow - Dept. of Psychiatry

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Post-Doctoral Fellow - Dept. of Psychiatry at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

Perform scientific techniques or research protocols. Assist the Principal Investigator in designing and performing protocols. Design and perform experiments. Collect and log research data. Participate in implementing research objectives, ensuring compliance with all legal, regulatory and protocol guidelines. Assist other lab members with experiments as required. May mentor research assistants and students.

With the assistance of the mentor, find and write research grants with the goal of obtaining additional research grant funding. Responsibilities may also include coordinating correspondence with applicants and grantees, acknowledging receipts of proposals, and maintaining a system to track proposals.

Evaluate and perform preliminary analysis of the data using graphs, charts or tables to highlight the key points of the research results collected in accordance with the research protocols as stipulated.

Prepare and present presentations regarding research project results for professional, scientific and academic conferences. Summarize and organize data results for submittal to academic and scholarly, peer-reviewed journals. Write scientific manuscripts and other documents for publication. Fact-check, proofread, and edit research documents to ensure accuracy.

Maintain the laboratory work areas including routine maintenance on laboratory equipment as required. Order and organize required research supplies and records. Maintain cleanliness and organization of work station.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Unique duties:

A postdoctoral fellow position is available immediately in the lab of Dr. Alana Conti in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State School of Medicine, (WSU SOM) and the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center (JDD VAMC) in Detroit, MI. Our lab studies the development of pain and opioid addiction following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and traumatic stress using several rodent models of TBI and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We have a special interest in understanding how oxidative stress and neuroinflammation lead to pain, anxiety-like behaviors and drug seeking in mice and in developing novel therapeutic interventions to address these outcomes. We seek a motivated post-doctoral fellow with experience and formal training in innovative molecular and cellular biology approaches and a strong interest in preclinical behavioral modeling. The ideal candidate will be excellent written and oral communicators and have hands-on experience in traumatic brain injury models. Fellows will have the opportunity to learn and perform small animal imaging, including PET/CT imaging, as well as design and perform molecular and cellular assays, including RNA and DNA extraction and purification, qPCR, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Successful candidates will be expected to work as part of team, perform research, write manuscripts, and present their findings at local and national meetings. The candidate also will assist in writing progress reports, grant proposals, and will be highly encouraged to submit fellowship applications (both intramural and extramural). The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences offers a highly collaborative, training and research environment in drug discovery and development, neuroscience, pharmaceutics and drug delivery, immunology, chemistry and radiochemistry, and nuclear imaging. WSU SOM and the JDD VAMC have dynamic, productive and highly collaborative neuroscience communities and they are excellent training environments for postdoctoral fellows. In addition, the Detroit metro area is a vibrant, affordable, and family-friendly place to live. Please include your curriculum vitae, a letter of interest outlining experience and research goals, and the names and contact information of at least three references on your application materials.

Qualifications:

Education Doctorate degree
Requires advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, predominantly intellectual in character.
This knowledge is acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.

Experience Intermediate (3 to 4 years job-related experience)
Job related experience can include doctorate training. Experience performing basic research techniques,
preferred. Must have distinguished themselves in research. Prior recipient of funding for research based on individual achievements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Ability to work independently. Ability to secure grants and funding for research. Ability to collect, analyze, summarize and interpret research findings in reports and communicate results to the field. Knowledge of and experience with current scientific integrity principles. Excellent time management and organization skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with others in a collaborative environment. Microsoft office software skills.

Preferred qualifications:

Doctoral degree in the biological sciences, or in related disciplines. Prior experience in working with rodents, and a broad understanding in neuroscience and brain injury, is strongly preferred. Pay is commensurate with experience.

School/College/Division:

H06 - School of Medicine

Primary department:

H0613 - Psychiatry

Employment type:

• Regular Employee
• Job type: Full Time
• Job category: Research

Funding/salary information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary
• Hourly rate:
• Salary minimum:
• Salary hire maximum:

Working conditions:

Typical work environment may include a laboratory and/or office environment. May require working non-standard business hours including evenings and weekends. May be required to travel to scientific conferences.

Job openings:

• Number of openings: 1
• Reposted position: No
• Reposted reason: None (New Requisition)
• Prior posting/requisition number:

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.

Equal employment opportunity statement:

Wayne State University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. The university encourages applications from women, people of color and other underrepresented people. Wayne State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.