"Visiting Researcher"

Position Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking a Visiting Researcher for the Child Health Institute of NJ at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Under the direction of Dr. Mark Rossi (Principal Investigator) the Visiting Researcher (VR) will be responsible for the performance and analysis of experiments focused on studying the involvement of the hypothalamus and associated brain regions in regulating feeding and obesity. The project is part of the lab's goal to understand how the brain orchestrates motivated behavior and how it is altered in pathologies such as obesity, addiction, or eating disorders using in vivo calcium imaging, optogenetics, and electrophysiology.

The VR is expected to have experience in conducting and analyzing scientific experiments involving rodent models and in neuroscience and cellular biology techniques, such as genotyping, survival surgery, histology, microscopy, electrophysiology, calcium imaging, or coding. The VR will be responsible for maintenance and genotyping of the mouse colony and will assist with ongoing research projects in the lab. The VR will assist in ordering reagents and supplies as well as collaborating with the Principal Investigator in monitoring how the resources are used in the lab. The VR is expected to maintain a high level of research competency, knowledge, and skills to perform duties assigned by the Principal Investigator.

In addition, the VR will participate in lab meetings, research in progress seminars, and present at conferences. Applicant will assist in the preparation and writing of scientific manuscripts and grant applications, and in the management of the laboratory, including the training of new personnel and the direct oversight of student aids.

Key Duties

• Maintain the mouse colony, including breeding, weaning, genotyping and record keeping.
• Assist in ordering supplies and reagents.
• Perform behavioral testing on mice and analyze associated data; perform survival surgery on mice; and perform histological analysis of brain tissue with confocal microscopy.
• Collect and analyze in vivo calcium imaging and ex vivo electrophysiology data.
• Assist the Principal investigator in responding to lab safety audits at least twice a year.
• Keeps up to date on the relevant literature in both peer-reviewed and preprint form.

Minimum Education and Experience

Qualified candidates should be a recent graduate; bachelor's degree is required; master's degree in biology or biomedicine preferred. Majored in Biological Sciences, Medicine, Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or other relevant biological sciences. Prior experience with basic or clinical research is required.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical Demands: Must be able to work with mice. Must be able to work in a laboratory environment. Must be able to perform laboratory research. Some lifting may be required: such as office supplies, files or light boxes up to 25 pounds. Walking, standing, sitting is required.

Work Environment: Must pass employee health clearance, TB Test and required safety training. Must follow all safety precautions in laboratory, as required.

Salary

Based on experience; budgeted salary $45,000