Postdoctoral Positions in Pain Research

The laboratory of Dr. Yu-Qing Cao in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is looking for highly motivated, well-trained, and ambitious postdoctoral researchers to join a dynamic, NIH- and DoD-funded pain research lab. We are interested in understanding how ion channel defects and neuro-immune interactions contribute to chronic pain, especially chronic headache disorders as well as comorbidities, such as cognitive dysfunction, depression and anxiety. We are also developing new therapies for migraine headache, post-traumatic headache and other chronic pain conditions. The laboratory integrates a complementary set of tools including patch-clamp electrophysiology, calcium imaging, molecular genetics, neuroanatomy, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, immunology, pharmacology as well as mouse behavioral assessment of pain and cognitive functions. We are part of a diverse and highly collaborative community of pain researchers using state-of-the-art tools in basic and translational pain research. More information can be found at: https://sites.wustl.edu/dbrcaolab/

Candidates should have a MD and/or PhD degree, strong research background, initiative to lead projects, excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently as well as with multi-departmental collaborators. The successful candidates should have expertise in one of the following areas:


1) ion channel, membrane excitability and neurotransmission, patch-clamp electrophysiology and/or time-lapse imaging
2) neuro-immune interaction, flow cytometry, T cell enrichment, adoptive transfer and other immunological approaches
3) chronic pain research, mouse nociceptive behavioral assays, survival surgery, brain anatomy and fluorescent microscopy
4) molecular cloning, protein expression and purification, tissue culture, structure and functional study of membrane proteins.

The positions are for at least three years and are fully funded. Postdoctoral researchers are supported by skilled research assistants. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications, laboratory experience, and institutional guidelines.

Applicants interested in the positions should send their curriculum vitae, statement of research interests and career goals, along with contact information for three references to:

Yu-Qing Cao, PhD
Associate Professor
caoy@anest.wustl.edu

Washington University is a world-renowned research institution with a wealth of resources for conducting cutting-edge basic and translational studies. It is home of a large and internationally recognized neuroscience community, with ample opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Washington University has made tremendous investments into promoting entrepreneurial activities stemming from ongoing research. Together these provide new opportunities to explore 21st century scientific careers and develop a unique perspective on scientific discovery.

St. Louis is an extremely livable city with a low cost of living. The large metropolitan area has a diverse array of entertainment options including outdoor activities, dining, shopping, and an extremely active professional sports scene. The medical school and undergrad campuses sit on opposite ends of the 2nd largest municipal park in the country (Forest Park; 1,400 acres).

Washington University in St. Louis is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.