Post Doctoral Scholar Trainee
Post Doctoral Scholar Trainee
US-OR-Portland
Requisition ID: 2026-39573
Position Category: Postdoctoral
Job Type: Postdoctoral
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Posting Department: Neurology
Posting Salary Range: stipend paid
Posting FTE: 1.00
Posting Schedule: M-F
Posting Hours: TBD, 40 hours per week
HR Mission: School of Medicine
Drug Testable: NoFunction/Duties of Position
The Mishra lab aims to discover the mechanisms underlying neurovascular coupling in healthy physiology and its dysfunction in neurological disease, with particular focus on ischemic stroke. The candidate for this postdoctoral position will lead a project investigating how the astrocyte syncytium, formed by gap junctions between astrocytes, regulates both neuronal activity and neurovascular coupling. The candidate will also investigate the role of various astrocytic signaling pathways, including those mediated by pH and calcium channels, in dysregulating gap junctions and their impact on neurovascular impairment in aging, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. They will combine physiological studies with bioinformatics to analyze omics datasets and cell culture models of neurovascular unit.
The ideal candidate will have expertise in performing ex vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology recordings, human cell culture models to examine blood-brain barrier properties and neurovascular unit functions, bioinformatics to examine genomic and other omics datasets, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, and mouse handling and breeding. They will have excellent, in-depth knowledge of aging and neurodegenerative diseases, biology of glial cells (astrocyte and microglia), mechanisms of neuroimmune function, and neurophysiology. An in-depth knowledge of ion channels as well as the mechanisms by which glial cells respond to injury and disease conditions is highly preferred. Demonstrated evidence of written communications (publications) and a high level of independence is a must.
The successful candidate will be responsible for experimental design, data collection and analysis, interpretation, reading the pertinent literature, writing manuscripts for publication, and generally leading the project under the guidance of the PI. The postdoctoral scholar will also facilitate lab organization, participate in lab meetings, attend research seminars and journal clubs, present their work at national/international conferences, assist in writing grant applications, and help supervise/mentor research assistants and graduate students in the lab.
Experience in mouse genetics and transgenic models, animal surgery, biochemistry, the use of pharmacology to study mechanisms of aging, and behavioral assessments of health are further optional criteria. A willingness to learn, work collaboratively as part of the team, and passion for scientific inquiry are a must!
This full time position is stipend-paid, subject to availability of funds, and approval from an NIH NIA-supported training grant. Due to the nature of funding, the candidate must be a US citizen or permanent resident. Priority will be given to recent PhD graduates seeking their first postdoctoral position. Two letters of reference required upon request.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in neuroscience with experience in glial biology and aging research
- Ability to work independently on a scientific project, multitask and keep good records
- Willingness to work co-operatively with other lab members as part of a team
- Willingness to mentor junior researchers
- Attention to detail, observational acumen
- Grant writing experience
- Experience with:
- Animal handing, transgenic models
- Creating and maintaining laboratory SOPs
- Ex vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology
- Human cell-culture approaches to model the blood-brain barrier
- Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy
- Bioinformatics
- Data analysis using appropriate statistical tools
- Writing and publishing manuscripts
- Knowledge of aging and neurodegenerative diseases, biology of glial cells, mechanisms of neuroimmune function, and neurophysiology
Preferred Qualifications
- Deep knowledge of glial biology and role of glia in aging, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease
- Experience in animal surgeries
- Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students
- Teaching experience (teaching assistantships acceptable)
Additional Details
The job will require working in a standard biological laboratory, handling some harmful chemicals (with proper PPE and safety instructions), and exposure to wet laboratory hazards such as microtomes, cryostats, lasers, centrifuges, needles, -80 freezers etc. as well as biohazards such as DNA and viruses.
Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
PI285036580
