Position:  Research Entomologist/Research Physiologist (Insects)

Description of Duties:  The USDA, ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory seeks a post-doctoral research associate to participate in research on the functional analysis of biogenic amines in ticks.  The project is to detect and determine the distribution of biogenic amines, such as octopamine, in various organs and tissues of ticks and to determine their roles in tick physiology such as salivation, feeding, mating, and development.  The research involves immunohistological detection of biogenic amines in tick central nervous system (synganglia), salivary gland, gut, heart and muscles at different developmental stages; pharmacological evaluation of biogenic amines and their agonists and antagonists on physiological processes that affect tick feeding, mating and development; bioassays on effects of biogenic amines on tick behaviors and susceptibility to acaricides.