Postdoctoral Fellow - Oldenburg Lab

Position Details

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title	Postdoctoral Fellow - Oldenburg Lab
Job Category	Staff & Executive - Research (Laboratory/Non-Laboratory)
Department	RWJ-CABM
Overview	New Jersey’s academic health center, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) takes an integrated approach to educating students, providing clinical care, and conducting research, all with the goal of improving human health. Aligned with Rutgers University–New Brunswick and collaborating university wide, RBHS includes eight schools, a behavioral health network, and five centers and institutes that focus on cancer treatment and research, neuroscience, advanced biotechnology and medicine, environmental and occupational health, and health care policy and aging research. Our faculty are teachers, clinicians, and scientists with unparalleled experience who advance medical innovation and provide patient care informed by the latest research findings. We offer an outstanding education in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, biomedical research, and the full spectrum of allied health careers. Our clinical and academic facilities are located throughout the state—at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, including Piscataway; and at locations in Newark, Scotch Plains, Somerset, Stratford, and other locations. Clinical partners include Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Newark’s University Hospital in Newark, and other affiliates. Through this community of healers, scientists, and scholars, Rutgers is equipped as never before to transform lives.
Posting Summary	Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow for the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine (CABM) located on the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Campus in Piscataway, NJ.    The Oldenburg Laboratory at CABM is seeking an outstanding Postdoc to join an exciting neuroscience project developing and utilizing new optical and molecular tools to study neural circuits. Under the direction of the Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Ian Oldenburg, the Postdoctoral Fellow will investigate of the role of neural activity in guiding and initiating motor actions.    The Oldenburg Lab uses and develops advanced microscopy techniques, including multiphoton holographic optogenetics and calcium imaging in awake head fixed mice, to understand how groups of neurons work together to enact motor actions. Neural activity is complex and high dimensional with some activity patterns being associated with movements and others not. By using our novel techniques, that can drive precise patterns of activity distributed across many neurons, we can test different theories of the ‘population code’, gaining a causal understanding of how population activity drives actions.   The postdoc will work with the PI to develop an independent project, that leverages the expertise of the lab and the skills and interests of the postdoc. In addition to multiphoton imaging and multiphoton optogenetics, projects may also involve animal training, electrical and optical engineering, electrophysiology, molecular biology, and/or computational analyses. The fellow will have the opportunity to guide the research of an undergraduate research assistant, if desired.    Mentorship is a core mission of the Oldenburg Lab. All members of the lab are expected to be helpful and supportive of each other. The PI will endeavor to do what he can to help each member succeed, both within the lab and when they eventually move on. As such, every member of the lab is encouraged to explore that which interests them and to share their specific expertise. In addition, the postdoc will have the opportunity to attend scientific conferences and learn appropriate scientific methods and procedures.   Among the key duties of this position are the following: Carry out multiphoton optogenetic manipulation and imaging of neural activity in head-fixed rodents. Conduct rodent surgeries, rodent training, computational analyses, and other procedures necessary for the advancement of the project.   Participate in the configuration and maintenance of laboratory instrumentation and equipment, including computers, necessary for conduct of the project. Prepare scientific manuscripts for publication, and contribute to the preparation of research grant and fellowship applications.  Supervise and guide the research project of an undergraduate research assistant.
Position Status	Full Time
Hours Per Week
Daily Work Shift	Day
Work Arrangement	This position requires a fully on-site work arrangement.
FLSA	Exempt
Grade	99S
Position Salary
Annual Minimum Salary	0.000
Annual Mid Range Salary	0.000
Annual Maximum Salary	0.000
Standard Hours	37.50
Union Description	AAUP
Payroll Designation	PeopleSoft
Benefits	Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview .
Seniority Unit
Terms of Appointment	Staff - 12 month
Position Pension Eligibility	ABP

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Optical Physics/Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related science is required.   Ph.D. Candidates who meet requirements with All But Degree (ABD) will be considered.   Prior experience and productivity in research must be demonstrated.   Experience is required with modern analytical neuroscience techniques.
Certifications/Licenses
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities	The candidate is expected to be proficient in spoken and written English.
Preferred Qualifications	Previous experience with optics, in vivo imaging, mouse genetics, electrophysiology, molecular biology, and computational analyses.   Previous mentoring experience is desirable.
Equipment Utilized
Physical Demands and Work Environment	Physical Demands: Manual dexterity and vision sufficient for standard laboratory operations including pipetting and use of microscopes.  Lifting up to 25 lbs.  Work Environment: Lab environment.  Universal precautions are mandatory.
Special Conditions

Posting Details

Posting Number	24ST0794
Posting Open Date
Special Instructions to Applicants	Please highlight in your cover letter a description of your research experience, and what interests you about this position.
Regional Campus	Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS)
Home Location Campus	Piscataway (RBHS)
City	Piscataway
State	NJ
Location Details

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals , if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate’s offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement