We are currently looking for a highly motivated Research Intern to join Dr. Bernardo Sabatini’s research laboratory team on-site at Harvard Medical School. The Sabatini lab seeks to uncover the mechanisms of synapse and circuit plasticity that permit new behaviors to be learned and refined. They are interested in the developmental changes that occur after birth that make learning possible as well as in the circuit changes that are triggered by the learning process. More information about the lab and their work can be found by visiting https://sabatini.hms.harvard.edu/.

About the Research Intern role:

As the Research Intern, you will work primarily with Dr. Shijia Liu, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab, to investigate the neural mechanisms of flexible decision-making behaviors. The lab uses mice as a model to study action selection, motivation, and sensorimotor integration across various motor behaviors. Dr. Liu uses a wide range of techniques including optogenetics, in vivo electrophysiology, calcium-imaging, viral tracing, head-fixed and freely-moving behavior, to study how actions are chosen and terminated, and how homeostatic states influence action selection. The Research Intern position will provide you with an excellent opportunity for scientific learning, further development of research skills, and direct mentorship from Dr. Liu in a large, diverse, collegial lab – an ideal fit for a hardworking, passionate scientist who is looking for a 10-month+ experience with the lab before beginning graduate school, medical school, or the next step of their professional journey.

Brief Biography of Dr. Liu:

Dr. Shijia Liu is a Jane Coffin Childs-HHMI postdoctoral fellow (https://www.jccfund.org/fellows/class-of-2024/#modal13) in Bernardo Sabatini’s laboratory. Her research focuses on the neural underpinnings of context-dependent decision-making and the modulation of actions by internal states. Her expertise lies in systems neuroscience and neural circuits dissection, through techniques like in vivo electrophysiology and calcium imaging, optogenetics, chemogenetics, mouse behavior, and computational analysis. Dr. Liu is deeply committed to mentorship, having guided over ten students toward successful careers in graduate and medical programs. Furthermore, Dr. Liu is an advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, exemplified by co-founding an affinity group dedicated to supporting scientists from Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi backgrounds during her PhD at the Salk Institute.

What we provide:

• The opportunity to learn new techniques and expand your knowledge and skills

• Direct mentorship from Dr. Liu

• Joining the vibrant Harvard research community

• Opportunities for professional development and growth including the opportunity to attend

seminars and contribute to research publications

• A welcoming, collaborative team that believes in continuous learning and cultivates an

environment of trust, respect, and intellectual curiosity

What you’ll do:

• Performing mouse behavioral training experiments.

• Assisting with stereotaxic surgeries for precise delivery of cells and viral vectors into the

brain.

• Perfusion, dissection, and slicing.

• RNA in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

• Mouse colony management and husbandry.

• Imaging acquisition, data analysis, and graphing.

• Analyzing data, formulating conclusions, and presenting results as needed.

• Actively contributing to weekly laboratory meetings and regular planning sessions.

What you bring:

• 6-months of previous hands-on research experience working in a laboratory is preferred.

• Comfort and willingness to work with live mice daily and to perform survival

and non-survival procedures are required.

• Experience in one or more of the following techniques is preferred: mouse stereotaxic

surgery, behavior, histological preparations, and/or mouse colony management.

• Any experience with programming in MATLAB or Python would be a big plus.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and time management skills with strong attention to

detail.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Proactive and self-motivated mentality with an eagerness to learn and grow.