Position is available for highly motivated and enthusiastic candidates seeking to pursue a career in Neuroscience and Research in a newly established laboratory in the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology at UTHealth Houston – McGovern Medical School. Join us in this adventure to build the lab and contribute to a project that will benefit to patients with chronic pain.

Laboratory Focus: The Bavencoffe Lab is sponsored by the Mission Connect, a program of the TIRR foundation, and aims at studying new cellular targets to treat chronic pain, with an emphasis on patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) as well as with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. We focus in particular on the neuroimmune crosstalk mediated by proinflammatory mediators between sensory neurons and immune cells leading to neuronal hyperexcitability that promotes chronic neuropathic pain.

Techniques: The laboratory employs and also offers hands-on training in electrophysiology (patch-clamp recordings and analysis), behavioral assays and sensory neurons isolations and primary cultures.

Environment: The lab is part of a highly collaborative group studying the neuronal hyperexcitability after injury with complementary approaches including biochemistry and imaging.

Lab website: https://med.uth.edu/ibp/2022/11/01/alexis-bavencoffe-phd/

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:  

100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees  Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year) The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue! Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service) Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan! 

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as... 

Free financial and legal counseling Free mental health counseling services Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc. Resources for child and elder care Plus many more! 

Position Summary:

Under close direction of senior research staff, conducts activities to support research projects.

The position offers the opportunity to learn skills in the lab. Under close supervision, the applicant will conduct the following research activities according to research protocol:
•             Perform primary cultures of neurons.
•             Conduct electrophysiological recordings on neurons.
•             Handle, care for and conduct behavioral tests on rodents.
•             Prepare and deliver drugs to rodents.
•             Data analysis.
•             Maintain and schedule laboratory animal use.
•             Order and organize laboratory supplies.
•             Assist with general laboratory operations.
•             Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Key Accountabilities:

Under close supervision, conducts research activities according to research protocol. Research activities may include some or all of the following: patient recruiting and screening, traditional laboratory experiments and activities, informatics, field interviewer recruiting, screening and training and/or animal laboratories. May maintain clean laboratory equipment and/or work area to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.Collects, evaluates, and interprets research data to provide needed information to principal investigators and other researchers. Updates notebooks, records, and databases as needed.Stays abreast of new and updated protocols for research department.Orders laboratory and/or other supplies as directed by senior research staff.As needed, may coordinate the work of laboratory technicians and assistants to ensure efficient, timely and high quality results.Complies with all governmental and University policies, rules, regulations, and codes.Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

General knowledge of research fields.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience in lieu of education.

Minimum Experience:

No years of experience.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds constantly and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.  
This position may include work involving potentially hazardous chemical, biological or radioactive agents.

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.