Posted Date:
Position Description
The Daws Laboratory in the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology at 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 psychiatric disorders. Current research is focused on:
Investigating organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) as a novel target for the treatment of psychostimulant disorders.
Understanding the role of OCT3 and the serotonin transporter (SERT) in circuits driving fear-conditioned behavior.
Through this fellowship, the selected candidate will gain expertise in a variety of techniques, including in vivo electrochemistry, shRNA and viral knockdown, tamoxifen-inducible 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 available via T32 training grants at UT Health San Antonio.
Lab Focus:
Research in the Daws lab focuses primarily on monoamine transporters, how they are involved in psychiatric, and substance use disorders, and importantly, how the lesser studied low-affinity, high-capacity (“uptake 2”) transporters, including organic cation transporters (OCTs) and plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT) may be novel targets 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 monoamine 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 OCTs and 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.
Position Requirements
Candidates must have a recent doctoral degree in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, or a related discipline, and a strong interest in conducting substance use and/or mental health research using murine models. 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.