Behavioral Neuroscience Research

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) is the largest biomedical research institute in the Department of Defense with a 125-year history in militarily relevant infectious diseases and brain health research. WRAIR has served as a model for the world in the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for the most pressing infectious diseases of concern to soldier health and global health. All components of infectious diseases research and development are conducted at the Institute laboratories and facilities. WRAIR also hosts summer education programs for middle and high school students in science, technology, education and mathematics.

The participant will assist with a project to evaluate novel pharmacological treatments for their therapeutic efficacy in facilitating recovery from the adverse effects of traumatic stress exposure at acute timepoints using preclinical methods and models in rodents. Novel candidate compounds demonstrating efficacy of 30% or greater will be transitioned to advanced development and eventually launched for clinical studies to evaluate efficacy in humans exposed to trauma. The project aligns and supports WRAIR’s brain health mission, through developing promising candidate compounds for use to treat traumatic stress symptoms in the warfighter, thus restoring performance and Soldier lethality.

The participant will be learning the basics of preclinical drug screening during their time in the PACE lab, to include small rodent handling, pharmacology calculations and drug administration, execution and analysis of behavioral evaluations, data analysis and interpretation. They will also have the opportunity to learn small rodent surgery, basic neuroscience tissue dissection and collection techniques, and basic biochemical immunohistochemistry and ELISA assays. During their training, it is anticipated that they will have the opportunity to contribute as a co-author to ongoing lab publications and may even have the opportunity to prepare and write a manuscript.

This appointment is a twelve month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by WRAIR. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.

Requirement is a B.S or B.A. in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology or a related scientific field. Previous experience with animal handling is preferred, but not required.