OPS Research Technician-Neuropharmacology of behavior

Job Description

The Wesson lab is seeking a Research Technician for a full-time position to support studies into brain circuitry which orchestrates sensory-guided emotions, decisions, and motivated behaviors. The lab employs a range of in vivo methods including electrophysiology, optical imaging of neural activity, and quantitative behavior to understand neural function. The successful applicant should be highly organized and driven. Further, the successful applicant must be astute at both performing complex technical skills and innovating to solve experimental problems in the face of sophisticated custom-designed equipment.

• Generating lab reagents
• Supporting animal care, including genotyping
• Performing in vivo animal experimentation in the realm of neuroscience/neuropharmacology, including:
• Electrophysiology
• Optogenetics
• Chemogenetics
• Imaging
• Behavioral testing
• Mice genotyping and surgeries
• Fluorescence microscopy (epifluorescence)
• General lab maintenance including chemical and reagent generation

Additional Responsibilities

• Data organization, analysis, and figure preparation
• Equipment set-up
• Establishing and documenting protocols
• Programming and data analysis

Qualifications

• High school diploma and 3 years of relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least 1 year of relevant experience
• Strong attention to detail
• Exceptional interpersonal skills in a team-work setting
• Basic ability to operate laboratory equipment, including microscopes

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in computer programming, including Python or Matlab
• Working knowledge of neurobiology
• Working knowledge of the quantitative study of animal behavior
• Working knowledge of chemistry or molecular biology