Posted Date:
Position Description
The Daws Laboratory in the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) is seeking a highly motivated and creative Postdoctoral Fellow to conduct innovative NIDA- and NIMH-funded research on the role of monoamine transporters in substance use and stress-related disorders. Current research is focused on:
1) Investigating organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) as a novel target for the treatment of psychostimulant use disorders.
2) Understanding the role of OCT3 and the serotonin transporter (SERT) in brain regions driving fear conditioned behavior.
3) Characterizing novel drugs targeting OCT3 for potential translation to the clinic.
This fellowship is supported by a NIDA-funded T32 training grant. Through this fellowship, the selected candidate will gain expertise in a variety of techniques, including but not limited to in vivo electrochemistry, optogenetics, shRNA knockdown, tamoxifen-inducible OCT3 and SERT knockdown, and behavioral techniques, including conditioned place preference, and fear conditioning. The selected candidate will be encouraged to develop an independent line of research. Additional structured opportunities for scientific and career development are provided by the training grant.
Lab Focus:
Research in the Daws lab focuses primarily on biogenic amine transporters, how they are involved in psychiatric disease states, such as depression and addiction, and importantly, how they are modulated by therapeutics, drugs of abuse, and novel drugs to treat these disorders. The Daws lab is well known for its use of in vivo electrochemical techniques, biochemical and behavioral approaches to measure activity of these transporters in living animals. The Daws lab studies high-affinity, low-capacity (“uptake 1”) transporters, which include serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine transporters (SERT, DAT and NET), as well as low-affinity, high-capacity (“uptake 2”) transporters, including organic cation transporters (OCTs) and plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT).
UT Health San Antonio, located in San Antonio’s Medical Center, is one of the country’s leading health science universities. San Antonio is known as a historic and culturally diverse city with a population of over 1.5 million. Cultural and recreational opportunities abound, including the historic downtown with the Alamo and Riverwalk. San Antonio is also ranked among the topmost affordable cities to live in.
Position Requirements
Candidates must have a recent doctoral degree in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, or a related discipline, and a strong interest in conducting drug abuse and/or mental health research. Prior experience with rodents is preferred. Applicants must be US citizens or have Permanent Resident status.
How to Apply
Send a CV, a brief statement of research/training goals, and the names and contact information of three references to Lynette C. Daws, PhD (daws@uthscsa.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
All postdoctoral appointments are designated as security sensitive positions. UT Health San Antonio is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. It is our policy to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.