Career Center

The Integrated Circuit Neuroscience (ICN) labs (https://icnlabs.org) are soliciting applications for the position of a research assistant in the Department of Neuroscience and the MDT on Optical Imaging and Brain Science at the University of Minnesota. The labs are located in the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, home to some of the most advanced MR instrumentation in the world. The Optical Imaging team will have access to state-of-the-art single- and multi-photon instruments for cellular resolution calcium and voltage imaging in behaving animals.

80% - Perform Laboratory Research
The candidate will work closely with the principal investigator to carry out high-throughput protein engineering and platform-based screening of genetically encoded indicators of neuronal activity (See refs.: Kannan, Vasan et al., Nature Methods, 2018; Science, 2022). They will participate in establishing standard operating procedures for running the automated platform and in data curation and management. The goal of the approach is to create highly sensitive protein sensors for targeted voltage imaging in behaving mice. To this end, the candidate will also be involved in animal husbandry and will perform stereotaxic rodent surgeries such as intracranial viral vector injections.

20% - Lab Management
The candidate will assist with lab management, including the ordering of equipment and supplies and general laboratory maintenance, under the advice of the principal investigator.

This is an in-person position and the candidate will be expected to be in the laboratory for the full duration of the working hours (40 hours per week).

This is an excellent opportunity for recent undergraduates who wish to obtain hands-on research experience prior to pursuing graduate studies. Senior researchers, who have previously worked in an academic setting, are also welcome to apply. There will be opportunities for the incoming candidate to present or publish their work in peer-reviewed journals, and/or apply for graduate research programs. The position will be funded by departmental and multi-year federal research grants awarded to the PIs. In effect, the salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, and set by departmental guidelines at the University of Minnesota.

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelors in Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, or Engineering or equivalent combination of education/experience to equal 4 years.
• Experience using molecular biology techniques such as PCR, mutagenesis, recombinant DNA cloning, aseptic techniques involving eukaryotic cell culture, and biochemical techniques such as column-based protein purification.

Preferred Qualifications:
• A bachelor’s degree, with 1-2 years of laboratory experience, or a master’s degree in the life sciences (neuroscience, molecular biology, or related fields) or biomedical engineering.
• Prior experience with stereotaxic rodent surgeries and live fluorescence microscopy,
and/or histology is desired.
• Familiarity with DNA and protein Bioinformatics tools and knowledge of programming
languages, such as MATLAB, are preferred.

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