Available Research Assistant Positions: Spring 2019 onward
The Comparative Cognition Lab is looking for ambitious undergrad research associates to join our team and assist a doctoral student with ongoing behavioral neuroscience research. To learn more about The Comparative Cognition Lab,*check out the summary, website, and latest news features links provided at the end of this announcement.
In our laboratory, undergraduate research associates will learn how to setup and conduct multiple behavioral assessments in rats that examine animal models of memory using olfactory tasks. This is an entry-level lab position. As a new research assistant, you will be providing technical assistance to current experimenters in memory and Alzheimer’s related studies (e.g., experiment setup and breakdown, data entry, data analysis, animal handling and care). Prior research experience is encouraged, but not required; we will train you to do all of the technical procedures needed for our current experiments, and teach you how to handle the animals. If you are interested in this research opportunity, comfortable working with rats, and can meet the minimum requirements listed below, then please complete the application form attached and send it to us (application instructions provided within). We look forward to receiving your application.
Position Requirements:
· Availability to work in the lab up to ~2 hrs a day, M-F (10 hrs a week). ***Punctuality is essential in our experiments
· Availability to attend weekly lab meetings lead by the PI, grad student and or other senior lab members. Meetings can include discussions of assigned relevant readings, experiment training or reviews, data presentations, practice talks and/or poster presentations. All lab members are required to participate and are expected to prepare appropriately.
· Complete application
To learn more about The Comparative Cognition Lab and our research, read the summary and follow the links below to view our website and latest news features:
Summary: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) produces profound impairments in human episodic memory. Therefore, investigating animal models of episodic memory and AD holds enormous potential for understanding disorders of human memory. Although several animal models of AD exist, many do not adequately match the types of memory impairments that are observed clinically in people. We have developed several animal models of episodic memory that are designed to model the types of memory impaired by Alzheimer’s. Thus, we use our behavioral assessments of episodic memory to develop rat models of AD and cognitive decline. In the current line of longitudinal research we assess episodic memory in genetically modified rat models of AD throughout aging. To this end, our goal is to develop animal models of episodic memory impairment and protection in normal aging and AD.
Lab Website: http://www.indiana.edu/~compcogn/
People: http://www.indiana.edu/~compcogn/people.html
Select Publications: http://www.indiana.edu/~compcogn/publications.html
Select News Coverage:
Newsweek: Animal Memory Discovery Could Lead to New Alzheimer’s Treatments
Indy Star: Here’s how memory in animals may improve treatments for Alzheimer’s
Science Daily: Neuroscientists find first evidence animals can mentally replay past …
Earth.com: Animals have complex memories that can replay past events
Fun Kids Radio-Rats Can Replay Past Events In Their Heads: https://omny.fm/shows/fun-kids/230618-mp3-2?t=5m26s
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