Research Scientists - Neurobiology of Chronic Pain and Opioids

Multiple Research Scientist positions are available in Dr. Lingyong Li’s lab at the Department of Anesthesiology of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Our lab focuses on synaptic and neural mechanisms underlying chronic pain, chronic pain-induced mood disorders, opioid analgesic tolerance, and translational research to develop more effective drugs and therapeutic strategies to treat chronic pain in rodent models by combining a range of cutting-edge techniques including Patch-seq, mini scopes and fiber photometry, optogenetic/chemogenetic tools, viral vector manipulation, electrophysiological recording, and confocal imaging. Recent achievements include identifying the novel synaptic mechanisms underlying the development of neuropathic pain and gabapentin therapeutic actions (Cell Reports, 2018, 22: 2307-2321; Cell Reports, 2021, 36: 109396), identifying the synaptic mechanism underlying comorbid depression-like and ketamine antidepressant-like actions in chronic pain (The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2022), identifying the conserved synaptic mechanism underlining different types of chronic pain (Neuron, minor revision), and identifying the synaptic basis of opioid analgesic tolerance in chronic pain management (In preparation). Current lab research funding from R01s, R21s, DoDs, and a generous UAB startup package.

Available Research Scientist positions include:

(1) A Research Scientist position to follow up on synaptic mechanisms underlying chronic pain, chronic pain-induced mood disorders, and opioid analgesic tolerance in chronic pain management. The ideal candidate with over 3 years of post-doctoral fellowship and a background in rodent surgery and behaviors and/or slice patch-clamp recording will be helpful.

(2) A Research Scientist position to classify somatosensory neurons in a more integrated manner by capturing the transcriptomic, electrophysiological, and morphological properties of individual neurons in the spinal cord using the Patch-seq technique. The ideal candidate with over 3 years of post-doctoral fellowship and a strong background in slice patch-clamp recording will be helpful.

(3) A Research Scientist position to investigate the neural basis of chronic pain. The ideal candidate with over 3 years of post-doctoral fellowship and a background in optogenetic manipulation and/or in vivo calcium imaging will be helpful.

Interested candidates, please forward your curriculum vitae to Dr. Lingyong Li by email: lingyongli@uabmc.edu

UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans