Job Posting Title:

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Hiring Department:

Department of Neuroscience

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Dec 31, 2023

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Initial Postdoctoral Fellow assignment is for one year. Subsequent renewal of employment will be based upon performance review, progress towards research goals, and continuation of funding.

Job Purpose

The laboratory of Dr. Kristen Harris invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow. We are seeking a candidate who has a demonstrated expertise in electrophysiology and a strong interest in cellular mechanisms of learning and memory. The position is located on the main campus of the University of Texas at Austin, where the laboratory is part of the Department of Neuroscience. The successful candidate will design and lead projects to elucidate functional and ultrastructural characteristics of developing synapses that are necessary for long-term synaptic plasticity, as a cellular model of learning and memory. We are especially interested in applicants who are eager to expand their horizon and learn serial section electron microscopy from our in-house experts and collaborators. This position will also serve as a point person to provide technical support and training in the laboratory regarding synaptic physiology and ultrastructure.

Responsibilities

Design and perform original laboratory research involving acute brain slice physiology and serial section electron microscopy to understand the structural basis of synaptic plasticity during development. Provide new knowledge about how changes in synapse structure support long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), and the maturation of learning and memory.

Assist in training undergraduate and graduate students on these projects.

Write and carry through to publication scientific papers regarding new findings from these studies. Help to write grants and acquire extramural funding.

Assistance with grant proposal development and extramural funding.

Required Qualifications

Doctoral degree in Neuroscience, with a background in electrophysiology, received within the last three years.

Two years of research experience, including experience in brain slice physiology. Authorship or co-authorship of at least 3 substantial scientific publications.

Proven ability to work as a member or leader of an integrated research team and to present research to professional peers.

Professional demeanor and good interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Willingness to learn 3D electron microscopy methods to elucidate ultrastructural basis of synapse functions.

Detailed knowledge of developing hippocampus and/or other brain regions.

Training, teaching, and mentorship experience.

Excellent computer skills with particular emphasis on data acquisition and analysis.

Salary Range

$50,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

May work around chemical fumes.

May work around standard office conditions.

May work around biohazards.

May work around chemicals.

Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.

Required Materials

PhD received within the last three years

Resume/CV

3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Please make sure you meet all the required qualifications and you can perform all of the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.