Postdoctoral Research Opportunity – Neural Circuit and Neuroimmune Mechanisms of Behavior

The Patel Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is seeking highly motivated and creative postdoctoral fellows to join a growing research program at the interface of neuroscience and immunology.

Our work aims to uncover how immune signals reshape neural circuit function to drive behavior, with a particular focus on mechanisms underlying anxiety, social dysfunction, and alcohol use disorders. A central goal of the lab is to define how neuromodulatory systems, including neuropeptides and cytokines, regulate prefrontal circuits in adaptive and maladaptive states.

This position will be supported by an NIH R01 investigating how allergic inflammation alters medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) circuits to drive avoidance behavior. The project focuses on interleukin-4 (IL-4) as a novel neuromodulator that shapes circuit dynamics and behavior. The project combines circuit-level and cellular approaches to understand how cytokine signaling influences neural activity and behavioral output.

The candidate will design and perform experiments using approaches including in vivo calcium imaging, ex vivo electrophysiology, optogenetics and chemogenetics, viral circuit tracing, molecular techniques, and quantitative behavioral analysis.

Applicants should have a PhD in neuroscience or a related field. Prior experience in electrophysiology, in vivo imaging, circuit manipulation, or computational analysis is preferred but not required. The position is available immediately, although the start date is flexible.

Our lab is a collaborative and growing group committed to rigorous and impactful research. We provide strong mentorship and training, with the goal of supporting the development of independent scientists.

Please send a CV, a cover letter describing your current work and future goals, and contact information for 2-3 references to Reesha Patel, PhD.