Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Posting Details

• Posting Number: S06730P
• Position Title:
  
  Post-Doctoral Research Associate
• Functional
  
  Title:
  
  (not specified)
• Department:
  Speech Language Hearing
• Salary Range: $62,232 DOQ
• Position Status:
  Regular full‑time
• Location:
  
  Dallas
• Desired
  
  Start Date:
  
  01/05/2026
• Posting Open Date: 11/24/2025
• Open Until Filled:
  No

Dr. Kirupa Suthakar, Principal Investigator (PI) of the Descending Auditory Circuits (DAC) Laboratory, invites applications for a highly motivated post‑doctoral fellow with expertise in auditory neuroscience
. The ideal candidate will have previous basic science laboratory experience including rodent handling and colony management, rodent survival surgeries, auditory function testing, neurophysiology, microscopy, complex statistical analysis and coding in MATLAB/Python. The lab’s research focuses on understanding neural circuits in the descending auditory system
, specifically how auditory brainstem neurons encode acoustic information and identifying/characterizing neuromodulatory (e.g. serotonergic) pathways that influence sound processing in the brain and cochlea. Using normal hearing and noise‑induced hearing loss models, our long‑term goals are to (1) improve basic knowledge of brain processes that modulate sound encoding by the cochlea and (2) identify translatable therapeutic otoprotective targets to reduce susceptibility to hearing disorders resulting from acoustic over exposures (i.e. noise trauma).

This position offers a unique opportunity to be part of a collaborative research network spanning both The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW). Located in the brand‑new Texas Instruments Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (TI‑BMES) building, the successful applicant will have access to cutting‑edge equipment/technologies through core facilities at both UTD Richardson and UTSW Dallas campuses in addition to those contained within the lab.

As part of the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing, the lab works closely with other basic science laboratories and is uniquely positioned to collaborate with clinicians and audiologists to bridge basic science and clinical research.

The post‑doctoral fellow will be responsible for leading research using rodent (mouse) models, consisting of neuroanatomical circuit mapping (survival surgeries, brain/cochlear tissue preparation, immunohistochemistry, microscopy), in‑vivo sound‑evoked neurophysiology (auditory function testing, single‑unit electrophysiology), in‑vitro whole‑cell patch‑clamp electrophysiology from brain slices (pharmacology), optogenetics and animal behavior. Enthusiastic commitment to basic scientific research in auditory neuroscience and experience working with rodent models and colony management are required for this position.

This position is intended to provide the experience in publishing, presenting, grant‑writing, and graduate/undergraduate mentorship necessary to prepare the fellow for an Assistant Professor position
.

Anticipated start date:
January 2026.

The salary for Post‑Doctoral Research Associates in BBS is determined by years of experience per the current NIH NRSA stipend levels. Salary will be dependent on experience and qualifications. The appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal contingent upon continued funding and satisfactory performance.

Ph.D. in a related field.

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Hearing Science, Physiology, Bioengineering, or related field
• Strong programming skills (e.g., R, MATLAB, Python)
• Expertise in data handling and management
• Stereotaxic or other animal surgery
• Experience with electrophysiology
• Comfortable working with variety of scientific equipment (e.g. microscopes, amplifiers, pipette pullers, etc.)

To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in…