Postdoctoral Fellow - Dr. Mukherjee's Lab

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A Brief Overview
Under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator), assumes responsibility for a specific, on-going research project. The experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden his/her scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that this individual will conduct independent scholarly research, and will contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group.

This role will be expected to participate in project planning, recording and interpretation/evaluation of data, and communication of results. This position will also be expected to acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. This role also may be required to supervise junior lab members, develop new methods and protocols for research, and assist with the development of other research projects in the lab.

Mukherjee Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia & University of Pennsylvania

The Mukherjee Laboratory at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) invites applications from highly motivated candidates for a fully funded Postdoctoral Fellowship. Our collaborative, interdisciplinary research team investigates neural circuits underlying complex cognitive processes and their dysfunction in psychiatric disorders. Our work focuses particularly on the functional maturation of cognitive control circuits during adolescence and their fidelity in rodent and tree shrew models of neurodevelopmental disorders, including the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

For more information, please visit: https://lokmanya15.wixsite.com/mukherjeelab

The successful candidate will lead innovative projects to understand how experiences and intrinsic neural plasticity shape cognitive functions, ultimately contributing toward novel therapeutic approaches for psychiatric disorders. This position requires a PhD or MD/PhD degree in neuroscience or mathematics/physics/engineering/computer science as well as demonstrable research experience in at least one (required) or multiple (desirable) of the following techniques:

1. in vivoelectrophysiology,

2. in vivo miniscope or fiber photometry imaging,

3. survival brain surgery in rodents or other mammals

4. sn RNA seq and analysis

5. large scale brain wide mapping of functional connectivity using microscopy

6. Closed loop optogenetics

7. computational modelling of neural networks or behavioral data

Key Responsibilities:

• Design behavioral experiments to probe cognitive control mechanisms
• Record and analyze neural activity in mice or tree shrews engaged in cognitive tasks
• Employ tools to tag active ensembles of neurons for subsequent perturbation with opto/chemo genetics.
• Develop cell-type specific connectivity maps from adolescence to adulthood
• Collate research findings into publications and write expert reviews
• Contribute data and ideas to grant proposals
• Lead/contribute cross-disciplinary collaborations across laboratories
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students at the bench
• Maintain rigorous laboratory standards, protocols, and data management practices

What you will do

• Conduct independent scholarly research and develop new methods and protocols
• Participate in project planning, recording and evaluation of data
• Acquire technical, lab management and grant writing skills
• Participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentation at national meetings
• Supervise junior lab members
• Assist with other research projects

Education Qualifications

• Doctorate Required
• Letter detailing research interests and experience (1-2 pages),
• CV (list of publications)

Why Join Us:

The Mukherjee Laboratory offers a dynamic, collaborative environment committed to scientific innovation and personal career growth. Benefits include:

• Access to cutting-edge neuroscience resources at CHOP and UPenn
• Opportunities to publish high-impact research
• Presentation and networking opportunities at leading national and international conferences
• Comprehensive mentorship to foster independence and career development
• Hands-on training in grant-writing and research design from the PI.
• Access to extensive training workshops within the CHOP/UPenn ecosystem and beyond

Skills and Abilities

• in vivoelectrophysiology
• in vivo miniscope/fiber photometry imaging
• Computational modelling of neural networks and/or behavioral data
• Excellent proficiency in Python and/or MATLAB
• Survival brain surgery in rodents or other mammals
• sn RNA sequencing and analysis
• Large scale brain wide mapping of functional connectivity using microscopy
• Closed loop optogenetics
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail

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SALARY RANGE:

Salary ranges are shown for full-time jobs. If you're working part-time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

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