Research Associate – Circuit Neuroscience And Therapeutics

Research Associate – Circuit Neuroscience and Therapeutics

The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard is looking for outstanding research associates to join a research group led by Prabhat Kunwar, PhD. This group aims to understand the neural circuits underlying psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar and translating those findings into novel therapeutics and closely works and collaborates with the Sheng lab (headed by Morgan Sheng, MD PhD, Co-Director of the Stanley Center and Head of Therapeutics). The mission of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research is to improve the lives of individuals suffering from serious mental illnesses by using unprecedented insights into the genetic basis of psychiatric diseases to drive groundbreaking basic and translational research (e.g., genes uncovered in the SCHEMA consortium study).

The successful candidate will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary team working on cutting-edge fundamental and translational research investigating the cellular and circuit-level mechanisms of psychiatric disorders, particularly in relation to risk genes for schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. He/she would work under the supervision of the PI or a postdoctoral group leader, and for those with proven initiative, there is potential to pursue a project independently. There will be collaborative opportunity with Stanley Center scientists in the Sheng lab, other Stanley Center members and external collaborators. The dynamic and collaborative environment of the Stanley Center also creates opportunities to work closely with other Therapeutics groups at the Stanley Center, allowing the successful candidate to gain valuable expertise into drug discovery and development.

Specific Responsibilities Will Include

• Collaboration with group members, other Stanley Center and Broad Institute researchers, and possibly external collaborators
• Carefully maintain lab notes, develop protocols, analyze data and review literature
• Presentation of data at group-, department-, and institute-wide meetings
• Design and conduct of experiments aimed at cellular and circuit-level understanding of psychiatric disease-associated genes and potential therapeutics
• Maintain rodent colony management

Requirements

• Ability to work independently and interact with others
• Strong communication skills
• Experience in computational/bioinformatics analysis, including programming (MatLab, R and Python), is desirable but not essential.
• Experience working with animals, performing behavioral assays and data analysis
• Experience with optical imaging (fiber photometry, miniscope), electrophysiology, circuit mapping or circuit perturbation techniques (optogenetics and chemogenetics) is strongly desirable
• BS/MS in neuroscience or related field
• Basic laboratory methods of molecular cell biology, microscopy/imaging, cell culture and/or bioinformatic analysis of genomics data
• Experience performing stereotaxic surgeries, tissue preparations and immunohistochemistry
• 2+ years experience (BS) or 1+ year experience (MS) of relevant research/laboratory experience minimum (candidates with advanced experience will also be considered)

The Kunwar research group is dedicated to ensuring a welcoming and safe space for all individuals. We actively work to increase the breadth of our applicant pools to create an environment that supports and retains a richly diverse community.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

EEO is The Law - click here for more information

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled

Check out this video for a look into our community!