Details

Posted: 20-Jul-23

Location: Portland, Oregon

Type: Full-time

Salary: Open

Categories:

Academic/Faculty

Internal Number: 24791

Function/Duties of Position

The Mishra lab aims to unravel the mechanisms underlying the neurovascular dysfunction in neurological conditions, with particular focus on ischemic injury and their contributions to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Current projects in the lab aim to characterize the neuroinflammatory processes, especially the responses of astrocytes and microglia, following mild ischemia that may accelerate pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and understand the mechanistic cellular and molecular pathways by which this leads to neurovascular dysfunction. Two fully-funded postdoctoral research positions are open to lead studies along these lines:

The first project will investigate the role of pericytes, the cells that control capillary diameter, in regulating cerebral blood flow in healthy physiology and in Alzheimer's disease. This project will utilize pericyte-specific DREADDs and pharmacological/genetic manipulations to unravel the intracellular contractile machinery within pericytes, identify endogenous signals that regulate pericyte contractility, and examine how these signals may change in Alzheimer's disease to cause neurovascular dysfunction.

The second project will investigate interactions between ischemia and Alzheimer's disease. This project will use ex vivo (acute brain slice) and in vivo (laser speckle contrast imaging, 2-photon imaging, magnetic resonance imaging) live imaging for physiological analysis of vascular function, behavior to assess cognitive ability, and immunohistology to assess pathology. The goal is to determine how a mild ischemic episode (small stroke) alters neurovascular function over life-time and potentially synergizes with amyloid b pathology to precipitate cognitive dysfunction, and whether restoring vascular function can protect cognitive function.

The successful candidates will be responsible for experimental design, data collection and analysis, reading the pertinent literature, writing manuscripts for publication, and generally leading the project under the guidance of the PI.

The post-doc will also facilitate lab organization, participate in lab meetings, attend research seminars and journal clubs, present their work at national/international conferences, and help supervise research assistants and early graduate students in the lab.

Experience in mouse genetics, animal surgery, immunohistochemistry and western blotting, in vivo 2 photon or MRI imaging, and behavioral assessment are the main criteria. A willingness to learn and passion for scientific inquiry are a must!

Ideally, the candidate would be able to start in the lab in the fall or winter of 2023.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in neurobiology, neuroscience, physiology or related field

• Experience with:

• animal handing
• creating and maintaining laboratory SOPs
• data analysis using appropriate statistical tools
• writing and publishing manuscripts
• Ability to work independently on a scientific project, multitask and keep good records
• Willingness to work co-operatively with other lab members as part of a team
• Willingness to mentor junior researchers
• Attention to detail, observational acumen

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of vascular or cerebrovascular biology and mouse genetics

Additional Details

Please include a cover letter.

All are welcome
Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.