Research Scientist II

Overview

Department of Neuroscience & Center for Advanced Pain Studies
The University of Texas at Dallas

Position: Research Scientist II — Price Lab

This position is designed for an experienced, highly motivated scientist who will play a key intellectual and technical role in advancing the lab’s NIH-funded research program focused on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying chronic pain.

• Lead and contribute to federally funded projects aimed at defining how neuronal plasticity alters nociceptive processing within the sensory and central nervous systems, and how these maladaptive changes drive the transition from acute to chronic pain.
• Investigate the role of the voltage-gated sodium channel NaV
  1.7 as a critical regulator of sensory neuron excitability and pain signaling under both physiological and pathological conditions.
• Help expand and shape ongoing laboratory efforts focused on identifying and characterizing novel molecular and cellular targets, including ion channel mechanisms and associated signaling pathways, that regulate sensory neuron excitability following injury.

• Design, execute, and interpret complex experiments in both preclinical models of pain and in vitro human sensory neuron systems, with emphasis on patch-clamp electrophysiology, functional assays, and mechanistic studies of neuronal signaling.
• Demonstrate scientific independence, including responsibility for experimental strategy, troubleshooting, data analysis, and integration of findings across multiple approaches.

• Contribute to manuscript preparation, grant applications, and progress reports; present findings at lab meetings and scientific conferences.
• Provide mentoring and technical guidance to trainees, including graduate students and research staff; assist in coordinating collaborative projects within and outside the institution.
• Take a leadership role in a dynamic, well-funded research environment, contributing to high-impact studies aimed at understanding and treating chronic pain.

This position is 100% grant funded. Continued employment is contingent on the availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

Minimum: PhD in a field directly related to research and at least two years of applicable experience.

• Experience working with human nervous tissue
• 6+ years of research experience in preclinical pain models
• 6+ years of experience with human sensory neuron or spinal cord in vitro patch clamp electrophysiology methods
• Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic laboratory environment

To the extent this position requires 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 employment in the position.

• Design, lead, and execute advanced electrophysiological studies using human nervous tissue and human-derived sensory neurons.
• Develop and optimize experimental protocols for working with human dorsal root ganglia (DRG) tissue, including tissue processing, neuronal isolation, culture conditions, and recording paradigms.
• Apply electrophysiological approaches to investigate mechanisms of neuronal plasticity, injury-induced sensitization, and chronic pain.
• Analyze, interpret, and statistically evaluate complex electrophysiological datasets.
• Serve as a scientific lead on assigned NIH-funded projects, contributing to experimental strategy, milestone planning, and troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with principal investigators, postdoctoral fellows, clinicians, and external partners to integrate human tissue–based electrophysiology.
• Prepare high-quality figures, reports, and written content for manuscripts, grant applications, progress reports, and presentations.
• Mentor and train graduate students and research staff in electrophysiological techniques, experimental design, and data interpretation.
• Oversee maintenance, calibration, and optimization of electrophysiology equipment and software.
• Contribute to the broader scientific direction of the laboratory by identifying emerging research opportunities and supporting the development of new research initiatives related to human pain biology.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Apply established quality control criteria in all experimental designs.
• Communicate effectively in both verbal presentations and written technical reports for internal/external presentations, publications, and grant preparation.
• Collaborate effectively in a laboratory environment.

Work Notice: On-site and in-person work.

Travel: May require occasional travel for conferences, training and development, or other project needs.

The position is housed in the Department of Neuroscience & Center for Advanced Pain Studies within the School of Behavioral and Brain…