Postdoctoral Position: Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Aggressive Behavior

position Summary

The Department of Biology is a large, unified department with strong undergraduate degrees, nationally-ranked graduate programs, and world-class research spanning the breadth of biological questions and experimental systems – from ecosystems to microbiology and developmental biology, from evolution to cell biology, from molecular biology to systems biology, bioinformatics, and genomics. For more information about the department, you can find it at www.biology.indiana.edu .

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

The Demas Lab at Indiana University (www.demaslab.com) seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Fellow on an NIH-funded project aimed at elucidating the neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating aggression in a rodent model. The successful applicant will join a vibrant lab group using advanced experimental techniques to study the neural and neuroendocrine mechanisms of seasonal aggression. The goal of this work is to characterize how the pineal hormone melatonin acts on the adrenal glands and brain to regulate steroid release and conversion to control aggressive behavior. The lab routinely employs a range of neural, neuroendocrine and molecular biology techniques, as well as microscopy and behavioral assays, to address these questions. These studies will significantly enhance our understanding of the mechanisms mediating excessive aggressive behavior and violence. This research is in collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Aaron Jasnow, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, S.C. (www.jasnowlab.com).

Basic Qualifications

Qualifications: A Ph.D. in biology, psychology, animal behavior or neuroscience-related field and experience working with animal models is required. Experience with neuroendocrine and/or behavioral analysis is preferred but not required. The successful candidate should have demonstrated skills relevant to the project and experience working with graduate and undergraduate students on a collaborative research project.

Timing and Compensation: Best consideration for those applying prior to September 15, 2025. Review of applicants continues until the position is filled. The ideal start date is January 15, 2026. The initial appointment is for two years, with reappointment for up to four years contingent upon satisfactory performance. Salary will be commensurate with experience, and full benefits are included.

Department Contact for Questions

To apply: Please submit 1) a cover letter describing your research and educational background, your career goals, why you are interested in this position, and the date you are available to start, and 2) a C.V. or resume, and 3) the contact information for two references. This can be submitted to the following link to https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/30194 Inquiries about the position can be directed to Greg Demas (gdemas@iu.edu).

Additional Qualifications

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