"Research Fellow"

PET Radiotracer Characterization & Development

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our multidisciplinary team focused on the discovery and evaluation of novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers targeting neuroreceptors and neuroimmune pathways. The successful candidate will employ a combination of in vitro tissue assays and in vivo imaging techniques to characterize the pharmacological properties, specificity, and imaging potential of candidate radioligands.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, conduct, and analyze in vitro assays (e.g., autoradiography, binding assays, immunohistochemistry) using rodent and human brain tissue to determine radiotracer binding affinity, selectivity, and tissue distribution.
• Perform in vivo PET imaging studies in small animal models (e.g., rodents/nonhuman primates) to evaluate tracer biodistribution, target engagement, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism.
• Collaborate closely with chemists, molecular biologists, and imaging physicists within a multidisciplinary environment to support the radiotracer development pipeline.
• Develop, optimize, and validate experimental protocols for both in vitro and in vivo components of the project.
• Prepare manuscripts, present findings at scientific meetings, and contribute to grant proposals as appropriate.
• Maintain compliance with institutional, federal, and ethical standards for animal and human tissue research.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, pharmacology, chemistry, molecular imaging, biomedical engineering, or a closely related field.
• Familiarity with neuroreceptor and/or neuroimmune biology.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Desired Qualifications:

• Established record of peer-reviewed scientific publication
• Prior experience with in vitro binding assays, histological techniques, and related tissue-based methods.
• Hands-on experience with in vivo PET imaging, including animal handling, radiotracer injection, and data acquisition/analysis.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including proficiency with imaging analysis and statistical software (e.g., PMOD, Amide, SPM, MATLAB, or others).

One-year postdoc with option to renew.