Postdoctoral positions are available for the following National Institute of Health (NIH) supported projects:
1. Identification and characterization of novel regulatory mechanisms of dopaminergic and/or glutamatergic functions. Successful candidates are expected to use proteomic, yeast 2 hybrid, or candidate gene approaches to identify novel synaptic proteins, and characterize their roles in dopaminergic and glutamatergic functions. Candidates with experience in molecular biology and biochemistry are encouraged to apply.
2. Dopaminergic modulation of synaptic plasticity in prefrontal cortical circuits. Successful candidates will apply whole-cell patch-clamping in mouse brain slices to investigate mechanisms underlying prefrontal plasticity of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Transgenic mice and viral-mediated gene knockdown mice will be used. Prior experience in patch-clamp/intracellular recordings is preferred.
3. Molecular and genetic basis underlying neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders in non-human primates. The research involves identification of disease vulnerability genes using gene expression analysis tools in non-human primate brain tissues, silencing of identified genes in non-human primates in an attempt to reproduce some of the neurobiologic phenotypes of these disorders, and ultimately the application of research findings in the clinical setting. Experience in primate brain anatomy, in situ hybridization, and RNA interference is highly desirable.
Representative references for the Yao laboratory can be found in http://www.hms.harvard.edu/nerprc/sf_faculty/sf_yao.html. Successful candidates must have a Ph.D. and/or a M.D. degree. Candidates will have opportunities to learn multidisciplinary approaches at different levels. Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and contact information for three references to Wei-Dong Yao, Ph.D. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, New England Primate Research Center, One Pine Hill Drive, P.O. Box 9102, Southborough, MA 01772-9102 or by email to wy19@hms.harvard.edu.