A postdoctoral position is available immediately at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine
16.3.2017A postdoctoral position is available immediately at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine to study fundamental mechanisms underlying glial dysfunction and synaptodendritic injury in the striatum and hippocampus following drug and HIV exposure.
The candidate will utilize and integrate cellular and molecular approaches to elucidate mechanisms by which opiate abuse exacerbates glial dysfunction and synaptodendritic injury in neuro-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (neuroAIDS). A Ph.D. and/or M.D. or equivalent is required, and experience in molecular and/or virological approaches is preferred. The candidate will join a team that utilizes multi-disciplinary cell signaling, pharmacological, immunological, neurophysiological (optogenetic), virological, and behavioral strategies to explore opiate-HIV interactions in murine (in vitro and in vivo) and human (in vitro) models. The candidate will be provided with significant training in those disciplines with which they are less familiar, as well as significant mentoring to facilitate their transition to an independent research career.
Interested individuals are encouraged to forward a curriculum vitae, a list of three references, and a statement of research interests and career goals to Dr. Kurt F. Hauser, Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Institute for Drug & Alcohol Studies, VCU School of Medicine, Kontos Medical Science Building, 1217 E. Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23298 (email:kurt.hauser@vcuhealth.org) or Dr. Pamela E. Knapp, Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, VCU School of Medicine, Kontos Medical Science Building, 1217 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23298 (e-mail: pamela.knapp@vcuhealth.org).