Position Title: National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship, Sponsored by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, TX

NRC Application Deadline: May 1, 2015

A NRC postdoctoral research fellow position is available immediately in the Battlefield Pain Management Research Task Area of the US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) located at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Our group’s primary research objectives include, but are not limited to, applied and translational research examining the effects of pain therapeutics in models of burn pain, inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain as well as clinical research encompassing various aspects of pain management in an inpatient and outpatient environment. The applicant is expected to possess strong bench skills and experience in animal behavior and rodent experiments, previous experience in pain research is considered a plus. Experience with perfusion fixation, immunohistochemistry, cell culture and electrophysiology are also desirable. Responsibilities will include development and execution of independent research studies that complement the task area objectives. Candidates are expected to work with other task area members and collaborators in a clinical and laboratory team approach to science. The fellows are expected to publish peer-reviewed original research, present results at institutional seminars and national conferences, and submit proposals for external funding.

The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to take a leading role in one or more of the following projects: 1) conducting applied studies testing novel pain therapeutics in animal models of inflammation, neuropathic and thermal injury pain; 2) performing spinal nerve ligation, stereotaxic surgery and perfusion fixation; 3) performing cell culture-based experiments using established cell lines and primary neuronal cultures; 4) performing laboratory studies that include Western blotting, PCR, immunohistochemistry, microscopy and other techniques; 5) conducting studies relating pain signaling and analgesic/anesthetic drugs to wound healing, and 6) coordinating with clinicians to conduct retrospective database analysis and prospective IRB approved studies on pain analgesics/anesthetics used clinically.

Qualifications
The applicant must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent in Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology or related discipline and have a strong track record of accomplishment. The applicant must be self-motivated while also accepting direction from the task area manager and institute. US citizenship is strongly preferred.

Research Environment
The USAISR is one of six research laboratories within the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. The Institute is the U.S. Army’s lead research laboratory for improving the care of combat casualties and is also the Army Burn Center as well as a regional Burn Center for the San Antonio area.

USAISR Mission: Optimizing Combat Casualty Care

USAISR Vision: To be the nation's premier joint research organization, planning and executing registry-based and translational research, providing innovative solutions for burn, trauma, and combat casualty care from the point of injury through rehabilitation.
To accomplish these research goals, the USAISR employs a diverse workforce of over 250 military and civilian surgeons, nurses, pathologists, physiologists, biochemists, microbiologists, veterinarians, dentists, and other technical and administrative personnel.

For inquires please contact:

Col. Robert V Gibbons, MD (Task Area Manager) 
U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
e-mail: robert.v.gibbons2.mil@mail.mil

or

John L Clifford, PhD (Principal Investigator)
e-mail: john.l.clifford11.civ@mail.mil

USAISR public website: http://www.usaisr.amedd.army.mil/