Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M University Health Science Center

Department

Cell Biology and Genetics

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Bryan, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who we are

As one of the fastest-growing academic health centers in the nation, Texas A&M Health encompasses five colleges and numerous centers and institutes working together to improve health through transformative education, innovative research and team-based health care delivery.

What we want

The Postdoctoral Research Associate, under general supervision, participates in:

• Stem Cell culturing
• Isolation, characterization and engineering of extracellular vesicles (EVs).
• Raising rats with Gulf War Illness and mice with traumatic brain injury.
• In vitro assays, biochemical and molecular biological assays.
• Data collection and interpretation.
• Manuscript writing.

Additional duties include intranasal administrations of extracellular vesicles in animal models of aging, traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease, and characterization of therapeutic benefits through behavioral, histological, biochemical, and molecular biological measures.

What you need to know

Salary: Will be commensurate based on the selected hire’s education and experience.

Special Instructions: A cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references (to include at least one previous supervisor) are strongly recommended. You may upload all three on the application under CV/Resume or upon answering the questionnaire you may attach the documents.

Qualifications

Required Education

• Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience, Biotechnology, Biological Sciences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive expertise in Cell culture methods for human induced pluripotent stem cells, neural stem cells, neurons, astrocytes, and microglia.
• Isolation, characterization and engineering of extracellular vesicles from culture media, serum and tissue lysates.
• Drug treatment in rodent models of human disease via intraperitoneal, intravenous, intranasal or routes, Cognitive function testing in rodent models of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Biochemical and molecular biological assays such as ELISA, WB, qPCR and flow cytometry.
• Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopic techniques.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of computers and computer software related to data analyses.

• Knowledge of laboratory maintenance and equipment.

• Ability to work in BL2 laboratories

• Ability to work in the vivarium performing experiments on rats and mice.

Responsibilities

Research

• Performs Stem Cell culturing, isolation, and engineering of extracellular vesicles, raising rats with Gulf War Illness and mice with traumatic brain injury, drug treatment to animals, performing mouse and rat neurobehavioral tests, measuring therapeutic effects of intranasal extracellular vesicle treatment in animal models of disease using brain tissue analysis. These will involve immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence, ELISA, WB, and qPCR studies on brain tissue samples to measure the expression of various proteins, mRNAs, and miRNAs.

• Prepares cultures of neurons and glia, as well as brain tissue sections from harvested rat and mouse brains.

Data Analysis

• Analyzes and interprets data with appropriate statistical analysis, prepares data and figures and writes manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

• Prepares manuscripts for publication

• Assists in preparing research proposals and progress reports.

Mentorship

• Mentors undergraduate and graduate students in their research.

Presentations

• Presents scientific data at national and international conferences and makes presentations at lab meetings.

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts , and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume’ or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.