Postdoctoral Scholar-Pharmacology

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar to work in the Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science and Toxicology. This position performs and conducts research in the area of neurobiology of social influence on substance abuse

The project includes studying the effects of social learning on the acquisition of nicotine self-administration in adolescent rats. Specific experiments include breeding and genotyping adolescent rats, implanting a jugular catheter, conducting operant conditioning training and testing, brain sectioning, studying c-fos gene expression, single nuclei RNAseq, AAV injection and validation, fiber photometry and optogenetic manipulations. This position also analyzes the data and drafts the manuscripts.

EDUCATION: Ph.D. or MD in Physiology or a related field. 

EXPERIENCE: Experience in studying social behavior in rodents, behavior testing in rats, and studying immediate early gene (such as c-fos) expression in rodent brains. (Advanced experience with Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Vascular Physiology is preferred but not required.)

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Ability to work independently, self-motivated and detail-oriented.

WORK SCHEDULE: This position may occasionally be required to work weekends.