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Budget Title: Instructional Support Assistant (SL-1)

Salary: $45,372 (full-time, temporary)

The Manzano Lab, located at Binghamton University, is seeking a Lab Assistant to participate in conducting behavioral experiments probing circuit development in mice brains. Research will use mice to model neuronal development. These experiments will entail the creation, validation, and running of behavioral experiments on pre-adolescent, adolescent, and adult animals. The Lab Assistant will also have the opportunity to use novel imaging techniques to probe changes in neuronal processing as mice grow from adolescents into adults. Additionally, Lab Assistants will have the opportunity to get involved in the data analysis of behavioral and calcium imaging data. This would involve data processing and computational analysis, in Python or Matlab. Research will use mice to model neuronal development. For more information visit the Manzano Lab Website. This position has the possibility to be extended, based on available funding.

Key Responsibilities

+ Performing in vivo calcium imaging experiments aimed at understanding how neural circuits generate complex behaviors in pre-adolescent, adolescent, and adult mice

+ Performing all aspects of experiment, including surgeries, behavioral assays, and histology

+ Maintaining the animal colony

+ Processing calcium imaging data to extract calcium traces via software packages

+ Analyzing and interpreting data - applying systems neuroscience approaches to examine high-dimensional neural data. Approaches used include neural network-based approaches, Bayesian inference, and more

+ Assisting with the oversight of day-to-day functions of the lab and shared lab spaces dedicated to running research studies

+ Assisting in lab management, organization, equipment maintenance, and maintaining a safe work environment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

+ Ability to solve problems creatively

+ Willingness to learn new skills

+ Ability to work in a team

+ Quantitative and critical thinking skills

+ Basic familiarity with biology and/or neuroscience

+ Effective oral and written communication skills

+ Ability to analyze data and present it in a format suitable for publication

+ Effective interpersonal and organizational skills

+ Ability to balance the demands of an immersive research project with basic lab managerial tasks

+ Ability to work independently and collaboratively

+ Ability to adapt to the project's changing needs

+ Research interest in developmental neuroscience and/or systems neuroscience in rodent models

This is a fully in-person position that may provide opportunities to co-author presentations and publications. Therefore, it is an ideal position for candidates on the path to graduate school with interests in behavioral or circuit neuroscience research.

The position could include some non-traditional hours as required by experimental timelines. Details will be defined on a case-by-case basis. However, the ability to work on a flexible schedule (evenings and weekends) to accommodate lab needs is an asset.

This is a full-time temporary position for one year from the date of hire with the possibility of extension, contingent on performance and funding each 12 months. Flexible start-date before November 2025.

Job Requirements:

+ Bachelor's degree (or higher) in psychology, computer science, engineering, neuroscience, biology, mathematics, or related field, by November 1, 2025

+ At least 6 months of full/part-time experience working in a research setting in developmental psychology, circuit neuroscience, computational analysis, engineering, or related field (This research experience does not need to be consecutive nor paid)

+ Demonstrated quantitative and critical thinking skills (through coursework or research experience)

+ Demonstrated basic familiarity with biology and/or neuroscience (through coursework or research experience)

Preferred

+ Experience in one or more of the following: Python, MATLAB, or R

+ Demonstrated debugging skills

+ Experience with system neuroscience research using rodent models

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Additional Information:

Offers of employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check and verification of degree(s) and credentials.

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https://www.binghamton.edu/offices/human-resources/prospective/dual-career/index.html

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