Careers and Training
The Neurobehavioral Research Laboratory and Clinic provides career development and training for students at all levels. Many of our former trainee's have gone on to successful post-secondary education programs and continue thier careers in human health research or healthcare.
The NRLC provides a fertile ground for career development because of the diversity of patient populations and research tools students are exposed to and because of our strong interest in mentorship. The following is a description of opportunities that are available.
Research Career Opportunities
The NRLC is a great place to start a research career. As a research assistant at the NRLC, you obtain hands on experience in conducting human psychophysiological experiments. Many of our research assistants use their time at the NRLC as a launching point for further education in biomedical fields. Some of our past research assistants have gone on to graduate school in Neuropsychology, Physician Assistant studies, and Medical School.
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Human Alcohol Research
The Neurobehavioral Research Laboratory and Clinic (NRLC) is seeking a motivated individual to join our research team that focus on the effects of alcohol administration and serotonin manipulations on impulsive behavior among adults. An exemplary research background in behavioral sciences, clinical psychology, or other relevant area is required. Preference will be given to those with interests in developing alcohol-related research in human populations. Current NIH funding includes examination of the biological influences on behaviors among healthy adults with alcohol consumption patterns ranging from social drinking to binge and chronic heavy drinking. The NRLC offers training in the areas of behavioral pharmacology (Dr. Donald Dougherty), psychophysiology (Dr. Charles Mathias), neuroimaging (Dr. Ashley Acheson), clinical science (Drs. Rene Olvera and Stacy Ryan) and molecular biology (Dr. Nathalie Hill-Kapturczak). The fellow will be provided active mentoring and will develop a wide variety of skills and knowledge, including extensive opportunities for engaging in manuscript and grant writing. Responsibilities include study coordination and supervision of study personnel; participant recruitment, screening, and psychological testing; data management and statistical analyses; and manuscript/grant preparations. Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline. Multiple-year appointments are available and dependent on satisfactory performance. Candidates should submit their curriculum vitae, a letter outlining interests and career goals, and representative reprints (pdf files) of publications to: Dr. Donald M. Dougherty, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, MC 7793, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900. UTHSCSA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All postdoctoral appointments are designated as security sensitive positions.
Volunteer Positions
The NRLC is always looking for volunteers, we recently completed a participation in the Summer Research with NIDA program for underrepresented students (see page 11).
Summer Research with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) encourages students from groups underrepresented in the sciences to pursue careers in biomedical and behavioral research. Through the program, high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups are introduced to the exciting field of substance abuse and addiction research via research placements with some of our most distinguished scientists. Students work with leading investigators for 8-10 weeks during the summer. The experience may include formal courses, participation in meetings, data collection, data analysis, interviewing, laboratory experiments, manuscript preparation, library research, literary reviews, and much more. Summer Research with NIDA is now in its fourteenth year. Since the program’s inception in 1997, more than 700 students have gained valuable experience in substance abuse and addiction research, and more than 200 sites have participated.
For a listing of volunteer opportunities, please contact the NRLC.
Student Opportunities
The NRLC frequently has opportunities for high school and undergraduate students to gain experience in human psychological and biological research. In addition, graduate and medical students have opportunity to complete research rotations at the NRLC. Please contact the NRLC to learn more about training opportunities.
For undergraduate students interested in neuroscience research, we also recommend the South Texas Advanced Research Training Undergraduate Program (START-UP) hosted by the Graduate School of BioMedical Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.