NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship availableimmediately in the laboratory of Dr. Karyn Frickto pinpoint in female and male mice the neural mechanisms through which 17beta-estradiol regulates ubiquitin proteasome system activity in the hippocampus and determine the extent to which proteasomal protein degradation is essential for estradiol to promote memory consolidation and CA1 dendritic spine density.

What we do:

• This work fits into our lab's overall goal to identify the cellular, molecular, and cell-specific mechanisms in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and other cognitive brain regions through which estrogens regulate memory formation in mice of both sexes.
• Our research uses approaches including targeted intracranial drug infusions, behavioral testing, chemogenetics, fiber photometry, western blotting, qPCR, and anatomical methods (e.g., dendritic spine analysis, RNAscope, immunohistochemistry).
• Ongoing collaborative projects employ RNAseq and mass spectroscopy.
• The lab is also actively engaged in drug discovery projects designed to develop novel therapeutics for relief of menopausal symptoms. Dr. Frick is a Co-Founder and the Chief Scientific Officer of Estrigenix Therapeutics, Inc. (), a start-up pharmaceutical company that aims to improve women's health by developing safe, clinically proven treatments for the mental and physical effects of menopause.
• Additional information aboutthe lab is available at.

Preferred qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Psychology or related discipline
• 0-2 years of postdoc experience
• Highly motivated, able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Experience with molecular biology/biochemistry techniques, cell-specific manipulations, virus-mediated cell, circuit, or gene manipulations, calcium imaging, and/or modern gene sequencing methods is especially desirable, as is a background in memory and/or behavioral neuroendocrinology.
• Position would be ideal for candidates trained in learning and memory looking to gain experience with sex differences or hormonal regulation of memory, or neuroendocrinologists hoping to extend their expertise into learning and memory.
• Successful candidates will havea strong track record of publication in top neuroscience or neuroendocrinology journals.
• Opportunities available to mentor undergraduate research students.

Why UW-Milwaukee?

• Neuroscience research in the department focuses largely on the neurobiology of learning and memory, with special emphasis on neural plasticity, neuroendocrinology, aging, social and working memory, fear learning, and depression in rodents and humans ().
• The program is an integral part of the larger UWM neuroscience community and a large multi-institutional neuroscience community in Milwaukee.
• UWM is a public R1 research university with an access mission that serves >23,000 undergraduate and graduate students and is located on the northeast side of Milwaukee near Lake Michigan.
• Milwaukee is beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, has major league sports teams, loads of cultural attractions and festivals, outstanding restaurants, and a very reasonable cost of living.

How to apply:

• Send CV with names of 3 references and a statement of research interests that explicitly discusses why you would be an ideal fit for the lab to .