Neuroscience Research

Overview

The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) is offering two Postgraduate/Postdoctoral fellowship opportunities at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Gunpowder, MD. USAMRICD is the Department of Defense's lead laboratory for medical chemical defense research. As a subordinate element of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), the institute conducts research for the development of medical countermeasures to treat exposure to chemical threat agents for the protection of soldiers and civilians.

Disciplines at USAMRICD include chemistry, biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, neuroscience, toxicology, physiology, psychology, and immunology. Visit us on Facebook at:

These fellowships are for candidates who have an earned BS, MS, or PhD with a background in neuroscience or related field. The two fellowships will be hosted in Dr. Lucille Lumley’s laboratory in the Neuroscience Department and in Dr. Michael Adler’s laboratory, respectively, at USAMRICD.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Lumley, you will join a team to collaborate on research projects involving in vivo studies to identify therapeutics against chemical threat agents. One project includes in vivo pharmacology and toxicology experiments to determine age and sex differences in chemical-induced seizure, epileptogenesis, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. This study includes the evaluation of therapeutics to mitigate the effects of exposure to cholinergic-induced seizure.

Methodologies include telemetry to assess EEG seizure, microscopy to assess neurodegeneration, and a battery of behavioral tests to assess motor, sensorimotor, emotional, and cognitive function. Under the mentorship of Dr. Adler, you will collaborate on tiered studies using cell culture, ex vivo and in vivo approaches to evaluate the toxicity of toxins (especially neurotoxins) and to assess the efficacy of therapeutics in mitigating the toxic effects.

Methodologies include electrophysiological techniques in cultured neuron-like cells and tension recordings in isolated nerve-muscle preparations. In addition, you will gain hands-on experience to complement your education and support your academic and professional goals.

This Includes, But Is Not Limited To

• Engaging in the planning and implementation of in vivo pharmacology studies to assess therapeutics against chemical-induced toxicity
• Cell culture studies
• Ex vivo muscle tension studies (mouse diaphragm preparation)
• Participating in immunohistochemistry and microscopy studies on brain
• Behavioral assays of motor, cognitive and emotional function
• Small animal surgery
• Telemetric physiological assessments of brain, cardiac and motor function
• Preparing and writing manuscripts for publications
• Preparing and presenting scientific findings at conferences
• Obtaining experience with grant writing

Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

USAMRICD is prepared to begin this appointment as soon as possible and will review applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is selected. This appointment is a 12-month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant. For inquiries, please contact Lucille.a.lange.civ.

You will receive a stipend to be determined by USAMRICD. The stipend will be commensurate with education and experience.

• Health Insurance Supplement (Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE)
• Relocation Allowance
• Training and Travel Allowance

This program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and DoD. Participants do not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DoD or any other office or agency. Instead, you will be affiliated with ORISE for the…