Postdoctoral Associate - Electrophysiology

Summary

St. Pierre Lab (stpierrelab.com; Twitter: @StPierreLab) develops and applies new tools for perturbing and imaging the brain in animal models with cellular and subcellular resolution. We have pioneered critical new designs of genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) which are biosensors based on fluorescent proteins that report voltage as changes in brightness. GEVIs, therefore, promise to enable non-invasive monitoring of neural electrical activity by imaging rather than by traditional electrophysiological methods. GEVIs have already been applied in Drosophila and rodent brain slices but need further improvement before they can be broadly applied in awake behaving mice. We are also developing a new generation of optogenetic silencers called Anion-conducting Channelrhodopsins (ACRs).

We seek a new energetic team member to lead our efforts to characterize and apply these exciting new technologies in vitro and in vivo. Detailed characterization of these tools requires electrophysiology, hence this current position. An ideal candidate is someone who has experience with electrophysiology in dissociated neurons and brain slices. This position provides exciting opportunities for candidates to develop new skills in two-photon voltage imaging and, if desired, protein engineering and synthetic biology.

Job Purpose

Postdoctoral Associates are trainees working in an apprenticeship mode in preparation for a career as a scientific professional.

Job Duties

• Conduct research projects, both independently and with others.
• Purchase, setting up and maintaining equipment necessary to conduct research.
• Teach techniques, procedures, and experimental design to other members of the lab.
• Communicate research results in lab meetings and local/national/international research meetings and conferences.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• MD or Ph.D in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
• No experience is required.

Preferred Qualifications

Technical skills:

• Ability to perform electrophysiology in dissociated neurons or in brain slices.
• Ability to dissect rat cortical, hippocampal neurons, or both.
• Ability to maintain an electrophysiology rig.
• Ability to express transgenes in neurons of brain slices using viruses and/or in utero electroporation.
• Experience with imaging neural activity (e.g., voltage or calcium) in brain slices or in vivo, using 1P and/or 2P imaging
• Ability to code using Matlab, Python, or other languages.

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.