Postdoctoral Fellow - Rodent Behavior Pharmacology

Join the HJF Team!

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine.

We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike.

Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners.

HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

HJF is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to support the laboratory of Dr. Irwin Lucki with the Department of Pharmacology located at the Uniformed Services University (USU) in Bethesda, MD.

The incumbent will be part of a Department of Defense (DoD) funded project to study the pharmacological and behavioral effects of ketamine and the ketamine metabolite 2R,6R-hydroxynorketamine (HNK) in rodent models of pain and psychiatric disorders.

The project aims to demonstrate the efficacy of ketamine and HNK in rodent models of acute and chronic pain tested under conditions relevant to military medical use.

The broad interests of the laboratory are to develop novel drugs (like HNK) for clinical treatment of stress-related disorders, such as depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that frequently occur with acute and chronic pain.

USU is the federal military medical university in the suburbs of Washington DC. We are located on the grounds of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, across the road from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.

The incumbent will be hired by HJF. HJF provides scientific, technical and programmatic support services to USU.

Note : This work site requires that Non-US Citizen incumbents have lived in the US three out of the past five years.

Responsibilities :

• Performs specialized laboratory research utilizing experimental protocols which will involve specialized procedures and rodent behavioral models.
• Assists in designing, developing, executing, and implementing scientific research and / or development.
• Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories to potential inventions and products.
• Performs small animal surgeries, husbandry, and behavioral experiments to determine efficacy of therapeutics.
• Collects and handles samples and keeps detailed records of experiments.
• Prepares data for presentations at scientific meetings and for publication in journals.
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor. This may include attendance of and participation in required training for role.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

• Experience studying rodent behavior.
• Pharmacological knowledge preferred.

Physical Capabilities :

• Lifting : Requires lifting materials up to 10 lbs.
• Ability to stand or sit at a computer for prolonged periods.

Qualifications : Work Environment

Work Environment

This position will take place primarily in a laboratory setting.

Education and Experience

• Doctoral degree.
• Minimum of 0-5 years experience required.

Some positions or sites may require that the incumbent be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination may be required.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable.

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor 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. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

About Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine :

HJF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike.

Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners.

HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.