Position Summary
The research in Dr. Zhang’s lab focuses on delineating the pathways that regulate normal brain hemodynamics and further determining how regulatory networks are perturbed in aging, development and other neurodegenerative diseases. We utilize a variety of approaches including optical imaging (spectroscopy, two-photon imaging, fiberphotometry), electrophysiology, molecular tools (optogenetics, DREADDs) and computational modeling to study these questions in mouse models. For more information about the lab and our research interests, please visit zhanglabmsu.github.io.
The responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:
- Conducting independent and collaborative research projects
- Training and supervising graduate/undergraduate students in their research
- Contributing to publications, scientific presentations and grant proposals
The selected candidate will have extensive opportunities to publish, and access to exceptional resources to facilitate their independent research.
This is an off-date position funded for one year from date of hire with possible extension contingent upon funding renewal and satisfactory performance. The duties to be performed by this position require in-person presence in East Lansing, MI, and they are not compatible with remote work.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Doctorate -Vascular physiology
Minimum Requirements
- Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, physiology, neuroscience, biophysics, or a closely related field
- Evidence of prior productive scientific work in the form of publications in peer‑reviewed journals
- Experience with animal surgery, optical imaging methods, and computational or quantitative analysis
Desired Qualifications
- Expertise aligned with the lab’s research areas
- Strong programming skills or animal surgery skills
- Excellent and effective communication skills
- Documented participation in programs that promote inclusion and multicultural perspectives and that foster trust in collaborative environments
Required Application Materials
- Resume/CV
- A list of three to five professional references and their contact information
- Cover Letter
Special Instructions
The University will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, complete the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities contact form here: https://www.rcpd.msu.edu/form/contact. Michigan State University is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty, and administrative staff.
Review of Applications Begins On
06/16/2026
Summary of Health Risks
Employees may work with or near human and/or animal blood and/or tissues; live animals; bio-hazardous chemicals and materials; viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens; radioactive materials; medical waste; and sharp implements.
Website
https://physiology.natsci.msu.edu/#:~:te
Department Statement
Department Statement:
The Department of Physiology and Division of Pathology Division have significant teaching and research missions. The position works with a global community of internationally recognized scholars from diverse nationalities, ethnicities, and backgrounds; two large undergraduate majors (Physiology and Neuroscience) with approximately 1,200 majors combined; the Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology (MCIP) graduate program, popularly combined with professional degrees (MD, DO, DVM); and vibrant research programs in areas such as cancer biology, cardiac pathophysiology, diabetes and obesity, gastrointestinal health and disease, immunity and tissue inflammation, musculoskeletal diseases, molecular metabolism and disease, and neuroscience. The discipline of physiology is uniquely positioned among the biomedical sciences to span the gulf between exploring the most fundamental aspects of biology and the most practical and applied problems of human and animal health. Faculty in the Physiology Department at Michigan State University work to understand how the vast array of molecular and cellular events successfully integrate to define the phenomenon of human existence.
The Physiology Department Mission:
- Identify factors and molecules that promote health and disease.
- Understand mechanisms of disease progression.
- Improve overall human and animal health through identification of novel therapeutic targets and treatments.
- Train future scientists in state-of-the-art physiology concepts & approaches.
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
