Job Description

Summary

A Research Associate is available in Dr. Chunmei Wang’s laboratory at Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston). The Wang lab is interested in transcriptional regulations in hypothalamic neurons and their roles in energy homeostasis, and unravel the complex central mechanisms controlling the sex difference in energy homeostasis. The Wang group has been using Cre-loxP/Flp-frt and CRISPR strategy to manipulate genes of interest and use chemogenetics/optogenetics strategy to manipulate neuronal activities in specific neuron populations in specific time window in mice. In combination with fiber photometry, electrophysiology and neurotracing approaches, the Wang group explores the functions of hypothalamic neurons in energy and glucose balance under different physiological conditions. The Research Associate will provide technical support and carry out ongoing projects in collaboration with other lab members as directed by the PI.

Job Duties

• Provide technical support for established systems, including microscopes and TSE metabolic phenotyping systems, etc.
• Lab routines and management, including equipment maintenance, inspections, mouse husbandry work and genotyping.
• Perform literature search to identify the gap of knowledge in the field of brain control of metabolism.
• Develop testable hypotheses and designs scientific experiments to test these hypotheses.
• Perform mouse surgeries and collect data from various experiments, including metabolic characterizations, behavior tests and molecular analysis.
• Compose manuscripts, abstracts, posters or PowerPoint presentations for publications or other scientific communications.
• Provide hands-on training for other lab members (e.g. graduate students, summer students and lab staff).
• Perform other job related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Basic Science or a related field. Experience in lieu of degree will not be accepted.
• Three years of relevant experience typically as a Research Assistant, Research Technician or Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, veterinary medicine, genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, neuroscience, physiology, endocrinology, molecular biology
• Experience with mouse research
• Experience in mouse surgeries, preferably in neurosurgeries
• Good understanding of genetics or molecular biology

Work Authorization Requirement:

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.  Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment. 

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

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