Position Details
Position Information
| Recruitment/Posting Title |
Post Doctoral Associate |
| Job Category |
Staff & Executive - Medical (Clinical) |
| Department |
RWJ - Brain Health Institute |
| Overview |
New Jersey's academic health center, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (
RBHS) takes an integrated approach to educating students, providing clinical care, and conducting research, all with the goal of improving human health. Aligned with Rutgers University-New Brunswick and collaborating university wide,
RBHS includes eight schools, a behavioral health network, and five centers and institutes that focus on cancer treatment and research, neuroscience, advanced biotechnology and medicine, environmental and occupational health, and health care policy and aging research.
Our faculty are teachers, clinicians, and scientists with unparalleled experience who advance medical innovation and provide patient care informed by the latest research findings. We offer an outstanding education in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, biomedical research, and the full spectrum of allied health careers.
Our clinical and academic facilities are located throughout the state-at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, including Piscataway; and at locations in Newark, Scotch Plains, Somerset, Stratford, and other locations. Clinical partners include Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Newark's University Hospital in Newark, and other affiliates.
Through this community of healers, scientists, and scholars, Rutgers is equipped as never before to transform lives. |
| Posting Summary |
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Post Doctoral Associate for the Brain Health Institute within Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences(
RBHS).
The primary purpose of the Post Doctoral Associate is to perform experiments to examine how the orexin system mediates affective and motivational states arising with opioid withdrawal in an animal model of opioid addiction. The studies will explore how the orexin system affects these behaviors as well as analgesia in a model of chronic pain. This knowledge will facilitate the development and/or adoption of orexin-based therapies that can effectively treat the multifaceted symptoms associated with addiction. This Post Doctoral Associate will perform research into brain substrates of addiction using advanced behavioral economic and other behavioral, chemogenetic and neuroscience approaches in rodent non-contingent and self-administration models of opioid exposure. Research will use Wild Type and orexin-cre rats, local microinjections of
DIO viral vectors into brain, immunohistochemical and in situ analyses, qPCR analyses of brain peptides, and assays for addiction-like behavioral phenotypes to identify brain circuits responsible for addiction.
Among the key duties of this position are the following:
- As directed performs various research and clinical technical operations relative to ongoing investigatory activities of a laboratory; may assist in conducting specialized research for a particular phase of a project.
- Conduct behavioral, anatomic, chemogenetic, and pharmacological in rodents to delineate mechanisms underlying opioid abuse.
- Conduct conditioned place preference, and learning and memory tasks, intracerebral infusions, and pharmacological manipulations in rodents to develop novel therapeutic approaches to prevent development of addiction propensity during chronical administration of prescription opioids.
- Perform small animal surgeries, including stereotaxic surgery and jugular vein catheterization.
- Perform immunohistochemistry for neuronal markers in rat brain, Western blotting, ELISA, or qPCR.
- Utilize viral vector techniques to obtain cell-type specific neuronal gene transduction manipulations in vivo.
- Use specialized computer skills to analyze data, like Graphpad Prism, Pathfinder, and Ethovision.
- Analyze, organize, and present data at laboratory meetings and major scientific meetings.
- Write and submit manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Write and submit applications for grant funding to support laboratory research.
|
| FLSA |
Exempt |
| Grade |
|
| Salary Details |
63,970 |
| Minimum Salary |
20,000 |
| Mid Range Salary |
90,000 |
| Maximum Salary |
200,000 |
| Offer Information |
The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university's broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent. |
| Benefits |
Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, based on position, which includes:
- Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
- Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
- Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
- Employee and dependent educational benefits
- Life insurance coverage
- Employee discounts programs
For detailed information on benefits and eligibility, please visit:
http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview. |
| Position Status |
Full Time |
| Working Hours (per week) |
|
| Standard Hours |
37.50 |
| Daily Work Shift |
|
| Work Arrangement |
This position requires a fully on-site work arrangement. |
| Union Description |
Post Docs - Regular Salaried |
| Payroll Designation |
PeopleSoft |
| Seniority Unit |
|
| Terms of Appointment |
Staff - 12 month |
| Position Pension Eligibility |
ABP |
Qualifications
| Minimum Education and Experience |
- A Ph.D. degree in Neurosciences.
- A minimum of 6 years' experience in addiction research using animal models and rodent surgery techniques is required.
- Minimum requirements include laboratory skills in all of the following techniques: rodent behavior assessment, rodent surgery, immunohistochemistry, microscopy and Data analysis and visualization using software such as GraphPad Prism, Pathfinder, and EthoVision, algesiometry & pain assessment in animal models, rodent drug self-administration, chemogenetics, histology and qPCR.
|
| Certifications/Licenses |
|
| Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities |
- Must have documented ability to write scientific reports with one or more articles published in peer-reviewed journals.
|
| Preferred Qualifications |
- Experience mentoring undergraduate students is highly preferred.
|
| Equipment Utilized |
|
| Physical Demands and Work Environment |
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Sitting, standing, walking, reaching, kneeling, talking and hearing. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Scientific research laboratory. Computer data input. Universal safety precautions are mandatory.
Lab environment. Moderate noise. Exposure to blood, excrement, anti-neoplastic drugs and possible exposure to infectious and communicable diseases. Exposure to hazardous chemicals. |
| Special Conditions |
|
Posting Details
| Posting Number |
25ST1760 |
| Posting Open Date |
|
| Special Instructions to Applicants |
|
| Regional Campus |
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) |
| Home Location Campus |
Piscataway (RBHS) |
| City |
Piscataway |
| State |
NJ |
| Location Details |
|
Pre-employment Screenings
All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings. Immunization Requirements
Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination. Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement |
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Aug 15, 2025