Department of Anesthesiology and Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research
The Taylor laboratory is seeking to fill multiple positions with medical researchers that have demonstrated interest and adequate preparation to address important questions in the neurobiology of chronic pain and its control by endogenous receptor mechanisms / analgesic drugs using advanced methods in electrophysiology, neurophysiology, and neuropharmacology to end the current epidemics of opioid addiction and chronic pain.
Potential projects include:
Ø Use of patch-clamp electrophysiology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and single-cell RNA sequencing to discover, visualize and manipulate the changes in CNS circuits that develop after painful injury, misuse of opioids such as fentanyl, or chronic alcohol exposure.
Ø Use of Cre lines and in vivo GCaMP calcium imaging to record from CNS neurons and microglia and thus monitor mechanisms of latent pain sensitization and its endogenous inhibition in behaving animals.
Ø Develop rodent models of endogenous opioid dependence, fentanyl self-administration, and chronic ethanol exposure to study supraspinal mechanisms that link chronic pain with addiction
We discovered new mechanisms by which the body recruits endogenous GPCR signaling in the CNS to prevent the transition from acute injury to chronic pain (e.g. Corder et al, Science, 2013). We combine in vivo and slice calcium imaging and optogenetics, together with behavioral neuropharmacology, to validate new protein and cellular targets for the development of new non-opioid pharmacotherapies and analgesic drugs for chronic pain in neurotrauma, arthritis, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. For more details on our work and the specifics of each of the above positions, please see our laboratory web pages https://www.taylorlab.anes.pitt.edu/
Within the Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, we provide a dynamic research environment with exceptional resources for training in basic and translational neuroscience, including scientific mentorship and collaboration within the PCPR, and access to state-of-the-art core facilities within Pitt. Together, we will design experiments that incorporate your existing and emerging strengths in an environment that values hard work, intellectual curiosity, innovative thinking and teamwork. For more details on training opportunities in pain research such as journal clubs, courses, and seminars, please see our PCPR website http://pcpr.pitt.edu/
Academic Positions
Candidates with US citizenship or permanent residence (green card) will be fully supported in their submission of early-career NIH grants. Please send a Cover Letter that briefly details career goals and prior research experience, CV, and three references to Dr. Bradley Taylor via email BKT@pitt.edu
Postdoctoral applicants must have a PhD in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology or equivalent and multiple first-authored research articles in well-known international journals. Current graduate students with planned defense dates are particularly encouraged to apply.
Assistant Research Professors will have published several first or senior author papers in strong international journals in the areas of chronic pain research or opioid misuse. Strong grant writing skills are preferred, demonstrated by a proven track record of high quality, independent grant applications – funded or not.
Staff or Temporary Positions.
Please apply for staff or temporary positions by emailing Dr. Bradley Taylor – BKT@pitt.edu.
Research Specialist (Research II) must have an B.S. (or A.A. plus equivalent experience) in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology or equivalent field. To apply, email BKT@pitt.edu.
For further information on training opportunities, please see our training page.