Postdoctoral Scholars - Ostlund Laboratory - Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care

Position overview Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,073-$82,836. See Postdoctoral Scholar Table for the salary range for this position. Application Window Open date: October 1, 2025 Next review date: Tuesday, Mar 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee. Final date: Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled. Position description UC Irvine School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care Postdoctoral Scholars - Ostlund Laboratory Postdoctoral Scholar position is currently open in the lab of Dr. Sean Ostlund at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Research in the Ostlund lab aims to uncover neural mechanisms of adaptive motivated behavior and decision making and how they go awry to support pathological reward seeking in drug addiction and related disorders. We use sophisticated rodent behavioral assays to dissect fundamental psychological processes that guide instrumental reward-seeking behavior and combine these approaches with modern neuroscience tools including chemogenetics, optogenetics, and fiber photometry in order to interrogate neural circuit function. We are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for a new multi-year project investigating neural mechanisms of cognitive and motivational deficits resulting from chronic opiate exposure and withdrawal. UC Irvine boasts a vibrant neuroscience research community. The successful applicant will have ample opportunity to interact and collaborate with members of the Irvine Center for Addiction Neuroscience ICAN, Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory CNLM, and the Center for Neural Circuit Mapping CNCM. Basic qualifications: (required at time of application) Applicants can either have a Ph.D or equivalent degree at the time of application or they could be working towards the PhD. Preferred qualifications: Candidates with relevant training in addiction or behavioral neuroscience. Candidates who have specialized skills in rodent behavior, data science, viral neuroscience tools, and/or neuroanatomy are particularly encouraged to apply. Department: http://www.anesthesiology.uci.edu/ School: https://www.som.uci.edu/ Qualifications Basic qualifications (required at time of application) Applicants can either have a Ph.D or equivalent degree at the time of application or they could be working towards the PhD. Application Requirements Document requirements Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. Cover Letter (Optional) Statement of Research Reference requirements 3-5 required (contact information only) Apply link: https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF09885 About UC Irvine The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy. As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer. UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment. As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements. Job location Orange, CA / Irvine, CA