Senior Researcher - Neurobehavioral Core

The Senior Researcher will assist principal investigators with experimental design and the collection and analysis of data for behavioral research projects. Participates in all aspects of the Developmental Neurobiology (DNB) Behavioral Core Laboratory. Trains and oversees the laboratory work of approved DNB personnel. Performs experiments with minimum supervision and learns and develops new procedures. Participates in the design and interpretation of experiments. Assists in presentation and/or publication of research. Assists in tracking expenses and ordering equipment and supplies. Maintains and assesses the Behavioral Core’s infrastructure and capabilities to ensure that it offers state-of-the-art support for behavioral research. Performs other duties as assigned or directed to meet the goals and objectives of the department and the institution.

The Neurobehavioral Core is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Researcher to join our Department of Developmental Neurobiology. This individual will play a pivotal role in overseeing the DNB Behavior Core Laboratory, ensuring its efficient operation and advancing our research capabilities in behavior analysis.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in rodent behavioral assays and a passion for leveraging computational tools and open-source hardware to advance our understanding of animal behavior. The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience applying programming/ coding skills (MATLAB, Python, C+, R, macros, MySQL, and API) and other similar tools to data collection, management, automation, and analysis.  Familiarity with open-source electronics (Arduinos, Raspberry Pi, etc.) and a good knowledge of imaging hardware and software is critical to success. Strong candidates will have examples of how they applied these skills to innovate functional assays and pipeline development.

Additionally, the I candidate will have a PhD degree and significant post-doctoral experience, coupled with a deep understanding of behavioral testing methodologies and proficiency in various programming languages.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of vet tech or research experience, or a Master’s degree in neuroscience or related discipline (i.e. behavior, psychology, anatomy)

• Prior experience handling murine models or other relevant hands-on experience in pre-clinical work

• Proficiency with or in Microsoft Excel, MS Office, and Windows platform

• Flexibility to occasionally work off hours

• Prior experience in a research laboratory or hospital setting

• Prior experience designing or contributing to experiments

• Prior experience in designing, conducting, and analyzing behavioral experiments

• Proven organizational skills, able to schedule and complete multiple ongoing projects

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, along with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse investigators

This opportunity offers the ability to conduct functional assays in murine models and to work with cutting edge researchers addressing the mechanisms and prevention of childhood diseases. The Neurobehavioral Core is committed to providing individual advancement, mentoring and training, as well as ongoing support at all stages of career development. At St. Jude, we know what can be achieved when the brightest scientific minds face the fewest barriers. That’s why we provide world-class facilities, state-of-the-art technologies, and extraordinary support for your research to ensure scientific progress is never halted by a lack of resources.

Job responsibilities:

• Design and conduct a variety of rodent behavioral assays.

• Utilize advanced programming languages (MATLAB, Python, R C+, MySQL and machine learning techniques (e.g., DeepLabCut) to analyze and interpret behavioral data.

• Familiarity with open-source electronics and cameras (Arduinos, Raspberry Pi, TTL boxes, etc.).

• Develop and manage databases to store and organize datasets.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of custom software tools for behavioral data analysis and automation.

1. Performs daily operational activities within the Behavior Core Laboratory.

• Schedules staff, users, and resources

• Monitors equipment status and ensures appropriate maintenance.

• Ensures compliance with regulatory policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Follows standard operating procedures and protocols for behavioral analyses within the Core.