Job Description

Job TitlePostdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M University Health Science Center

Department

Psychiatry and Behavioral Science

Proposed Minimum SalaryCommensurate

Job LocationBryan, Texas

Job TypeStaff

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 will join the Case Laboratory in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Medical Physiology at Texas A&M University School of Medicine. The successful candidate will conduct independent and collaborative research focused on neuroimmunology, stress and trauma biology, and the mechanisms through which immune-brain interactions contribute to physiological and behavioral outcomes. Current research interests include understanding how traumatic stress influence's immune function and susceptibility to cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, as well as how immune signaling shapes behavior before and after traumatic experiences.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be expected to develop and lead research projects, contribute to grant and manuscript preparation, mentor trainees, and collaborate with faculty and research staff within a multidisciplinary research environment.

What you need to know

Schedule: May have to work on the weekend and/or after normal hours.

Travel: May travel as required.

Please note: This position is grant funded; future employment may be contingent upon future funding.

Responsibilities:

Research

• Under general supervision, is responsible for conducting research into their field of expertise.
• Design, execute, and analyze independent research projects aligned with the laboratory's focus on neuroimmune interactions and trauma-related physiology.
• Develop and implement mouse models relevant to neuroimmunology, stress biology, cardiovascular physiology, and immune-mediated disease processes.
• Perform rodent surgical procedures and provide postoperative monitoring and care.
• Conduct physiological, immunological, molecular, and behavioral experiments using established and emerging methodologies.
• Collect, manage, analyze, and interpret experimental data using appropriate statistical approaches.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at scientific conferences.
• Contribute to the development of extramural grant applications, fellowship proposals, and progress reports.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records and ensure compliance with institutional, federal, and ethical regulations governing animal research.
• Actively participates in the preparation of required progress reports to research sponsors.
• Collaborate effectively with investigators across disciplines including immunology, neuroscience, psychiatry, and cardiovascular physiology.
• Assist in laboratory management, organization, and maintenance of research equipment and resources.

Mentoring

• Mentor graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and laboratory personnel.
• Lead a team of research personnel and, along with the PI, serve as point for project management

Professional Development

• Prepares presentation materials on research topic that may be presented to small and/or large groups.
• Participates in professional development workshops both nationally and locally to develop non-research acumen
• Assists in financial management strategies for laboratory operations and assists in maintaining/developing budgets for research endeavors

Qualifications

Required Education:

• Appropriate PhD in a neuroscience, immunology, physiology, pharmacology, biomedical sciences, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Research experience in neuroimmunology, psychoneuroimmunology, or immune-brain communication.
• Experience studying stress, trauma, PTSD-related mechanisms, or behavioral neuroscience.
• Expertise in immunological techniques, including flow cytometry, immune cell phenotyping, cytokine analysis, or related approaches.
• Experience with cardiovascular physiology or cardiovascular disease models.
• Background in molecular biology techniques such as PCR, qPCR, Western blotting, transcriptomic analyses, or related methods.
• Experience with advanced statistical analysis and scientific programming.
• Prior experience mentoring students or junior researchers.
• Demonstrated success in manuscript preparation and grant writing.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design and execute research studies.
• Experience working with rodent models, including mouse handling and experimental procedures.
• Experience performing rodent surgical techniques.
• Strong record of scientific productivity, demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications and/or conference presentations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative research team

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Presentation skills.
• Analytical skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Independence
• Strong work ethic

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.