Postdoctoral Associates - University of Minnesota

Multiple Postdoctoral Scientist Positions

Department of Neuroscience and Medical Discovery Team on Optical Imaging and Brain Science

Multiple postdoctoral positions are available in the Integrated Circuit Neuroscience labs (https://icnlabs.org), which are part of the Department of Neuroscience and the Medical Discovery Team on Optical Imaging and Brain Science at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. The labs will be located in a brand new space at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), home to some of the most advanced MR instrumentation in the world. In addition, the Optical Imaging team will have access to state-of-the-art single- and multiphoton instruments for cellular resolution calcium and voltage imaging in behaving animals. The multipopulation voltage imaging technique, pioneered by the ICN labs (See refs.: Kannan, Vasan et al., Nature Methods, 2018; Science, 2022), is uniquely poised to provide novel insights into the dynamics of genetically targeted neuron types in cortical and subcortical areas, during rodent behavior, at single-neuron, single-spike resolution.

The labs are funded by the Department's startup as well by multi-year NIH BRAIN Initiative grants, awarded to the PIs, that support the engineering and application of innovative optical technologies to dissect the circuit and network basis of mental experience and behavior.

Job Description:

The incoming candidate will participate in establishing multipopulation voltage imaging for routine functional studies that dissect the dynamic relationships between genetically targeted neuron types in stimulus-guided behavior and virtual navigation. The candidate will be trained in cutting-edge techniques including targeted voltage and calcium imaging during behavior, targeted gene perturbation, and single-cell transcriptomics, and will participate in all aspects of the project from conception to data acquisition, analyses, and the dissemination of the work. He/she will also have multiple opportunities to train graduate and undergraduate students, collaborate with other labs, and compete for early career fellowships. 

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in engineering or the life sciences, ideally awarded within the last 1-2 years, with a strong background in cellular, circuits, or systems neuroscience.
• Experience with live tissue/live animal fluorescence imaging, and/or slice electrophysiology.
• An excellent track record, as evidenced by first-author publications and conference presentations. 
• Knowledge of programming languages, such as MATLAB, for data acquisition and analyses.

Preferred Experience:

• Prior experience with stereotaxic rodent surgeries, including intracranial viral vector infusions and cranial window implantations, subcortical cannular implantations, and/or animal behavioral training is desired.
• Must be self-driven and open to opportunities to initiate new studies within the realm of systems neuroscience using cutting-edge imaging techniques with advanced spatiotemporal resolution.

Please email CV, 2 page research statement, and the contact information for 3 referees to Madhu Kannan, Ph.D., (mkannan@umn.edu) and Ganesh Vasan, Ph.D. (gvasan@umn.edu).  

The position includes an excellent comprehensive benefits package, including low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans, as well as paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave. For additional details, please see: https://humanresources.umn.edu/benefits.

The University of Minnesota recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. We are committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at UMN: http://diversity.umn.edu.