Postdoc Research Fellow Synaptic and Network Dev Team
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Job Location:
Boston, NH - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Posted on:
16 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals including doctors nurses business people tech experts researchers and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit we support patient care research teaching and community service striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.
Job Summary
BackgroundThe Synaptic and Network Development Group led by Dr. Susanna Mierau is seeking a talented Postdoctoral Research Associate with expertise in deriving neuronal organoid cultures from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and/or in CRISPR gene editing technologies in human iPSCs. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will join an exciting interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of neurophysiology human stem cell biology and network science. We will address how the genetic change in Rett syndrome a childhood disorder leads to altered neural networks and seizures during early development. Using a novel preparation of human cerebral organoids (Giandomenico et al. 2019 Nature Neuroscience) we now have the ability to understand how brain network function is altered at the cellular scale in a human in vitro model of Rett syndrome. This organoid platform will also be used to test novel therapeutic strategies.
Key Responsibilities:
Work closely with experts in human stem cell to create autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) disease models in human cerebral organoids from patient-derived iPSC lines
Lead generation and maintenance of human cerebral organoids in our laboratory
Perform multi-electrode array (MEA) recordings and analyze network activity in the NDD and control human cerebral organoids
Work closely with team members in our interdisciplinary collaborations on the development and application of methods for human organoids network recordings and network analysis
Ensure validity and reliability of all data collected and analyzed
Keep excellent records of experiments undertake thorough data analysis and make active contributions to the laboratory research environment
Write regular internal reports as agreed and draft and/or contribute to reports for submission to research sponsors
Prepare and present findings at internal group meetings
Draft publications and/or presentations for scientific journals/conferences
Contribute to research grant applications
Provide guidance to staff and students including training to students and/or other trainees
Be an active team member and set positive examples for other team members
Contribute and lead administrative tasks related to research and teaching goals
Maintain a safe workplace and follow all lab and hospital practices and procedures
Any other duties commensurate with the post as directed by the PIs
Qualifications
Education & Qualifications:
- PhD degree (or about to be awarded at PhD) in one of the following fields: neuroscience physiology stem cell biology molecular or cellular biology or bioengineering
- Available to start as soon as possible
Specialist knowledge & skills:
Essential (required):
- A PhD in a relevant field.
- Research expertise sufficient to work independently:
- Generation and maintenance of human iPSC-derived brain organoids
- Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other group members
Desirable (not required at time of hiring):
- Research expertise in CRISPR and/or other gene editing technologies for human iPSCs or embryonic stem cells (ESCs)
- Research experience in neurophysiology (i.e. multielectrode array recordings and/or whole-cell patch clamp technique)
- Research experience in computational analysis of network activity
Interpersonal & Communication Skills:
- Superior written and verbal communication skills for working collaboratively including communicating progress and challenges to PIs
- Rigorous scientific skills for acquiring analyzing and presenting data
- Excellent time and project management skills
- Ability to make independent decisions and solve routine problems encountered in research projects
- Meticulous record keeping for both experimental procedures and for analysis
- Willingness to adjust working hours in accordance with experimental demands and as necessary for project goals
- Generosity of spirit and willingness to share and help develop skills in others
Length of appointment:
- One year in the first instance with potential to extend up to four years if satisfactory progress is made.
Probation period:
- 6 months
Additional Job Details (if applicable)
If interested please forward resume and cover letter to Dr. Susanna Mierau;
- Only applicants who are invited for interview will be contacted.
Remote Type
Work Location
EEO Statement:
Mass General Brigham Competency Framework
At Mass General Brigham our competency framework defines what effective leadership looks like by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance make hiring decisions identify development needs mobilize employees across our system and establish a strong talent pipeline.
Key Skills
- Bioinformatics
- Genetics
- R
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Research Experience
- Statistical Software
- Cell Culture
- Molecular Biology
- Data Analysis Skills
- Flow Cytometry
- Microscopy
About Company
Patients at Mass General have access to a vast network of physicians, nearly all of whom are Harvard Medical School faculty and many of whom are leaders within their fields.
