Job ID: 119688

Postdoctoral fellowship in Behavioral Pharmacology – dopamine D3 receptor signaling pathways

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 31 July 2024

Employment Start Date: 1 September 2024

Contract Length: Up to 2 years

City: Umeå

Country: Sweden

Institution: Umeå University

Department: Dept. of Medical and Translational Biology

Description:

A postdoctoral fellowship is available in the Sahlholm Laboratory. Our work focuses on the pharmacology and function of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and the actions of psychiatric and neurological therapeutics, such as antipsychotics and antiparkinsonian drugs.

Description of the project

We are looking for a new co-worker who will be using in vivo behavioral assays, such as open field locomotion and prepulse inhibition, to study the role of specific signaling pathways downstream of the dopamine D3 receptor in baseline behavior and in animal models of psychosis, Parkinson’s disease, and substance abuse.

While the applicant will be expected to contribute to ongoing projects in the Sahlholm lab, s/he will also be encouraged to develop their own ideas related to the GPCR field.

Eligibility

A person who has been awarded a doctorate or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate in neuroscience, pharmacology, or behavioural science is eligible for appointment as postdoctoral researcher. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the last day of application. Since the research program is focused on in vivo pharmacology in rodents, the applicant should be prepared to work with animals. The successful candidate will be proficient in spoken and written English.

Additional useful qualifications

We are primarily interested in applicants who completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the application deadline. If there are special reasons, an applicant who has completed their degree earlier than that may be considered. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, clinical practice, appointments of trust for a trade union organisation or other similar circumstances, and for relevant duties/assignments within the subject area. We are looking for someone who shares our enthusiasm for GPCR research: thus, a keen interest in neuropharmacology is of key importance. Prior experience with behavioral assays, stereotactic surgery (especially in the context of the 6-hydroxydopamine lesioning model), and pharmacology research will be positively evaluated. Experience with in vitro pharmacology and cell culture is also meriting.

More information about the stipend

The fellowship is an initial six months with possibility for extension up to two years from 1 September 2024, or as mutually agreed upon.

More information about the group’s research can be found on our website: https://www.umu.se/en/research/groups/kristoffer-sahlholm/.

Application

The application must include:

  • A brief description of your research interests and a statement describing why you are interested in the stipend.
  • CV
  • List of publications
  • Degree certificate from doctoral studies and other relevant degrees
  • Contact details of two reference persons

Submit your application as a PDF marked with the reference number FS 2.1.6-1245-24, both in the file name and in the subject field of the email, to medel@diarie.umu.se. The application can be written in English (preferably) or Swedish. Application deadline is 31 July 2024.

We look forward to receiving your application.