Research Fellow - Psychiatry/Psychology

Dr. Ming-Fen Ho’s lab is looking for highly motivated and productive postdoctoral research fellows for stem cell research projects within the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

This study is designed to identify novel therapeutics for substance use disorders. We will apply novel network biology approaches, pathway modeling, and simulation computational tools to prioritize potential candidates for functional genomic studies. The approaches we are taking could help us to develop mechanistic hypothesis for experimental validation. Our findings will enhance the general understanding of drug mechanism(s) of action and the underlying the pathophysiology responsible for substance use disorders, thus opening new avenues for discovering novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of substance use disorders.

Dr. Ho’s laboratory has established protocols for differentiating human iPSCs into a variety of cell types, including neurons, astrocytes, and brain organoids, and has developed cellular models and cell therapeutic candidates for diseases including alcohol use disorder, and opioid use disorder.

Basic education, experience and skills required for consideration :

1. The successful applicant should have completed a PhD in biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, or a related field. While ideal candidates should have expertise in one of the following areas, we also appreciate candidates in other fields who are committed to learning new skills and keen to bring their unique expertise to study neuropsychiatric disorders in a collaborative environment.

2. Proven ability to work independently, supervise team members and drive complex projects.

3. Experience in basic fundamental molecular biology techniques (such as gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, qPCR, molecular cloning, CRISPR editing, plasmid construction, virus packing, iPSC culture, RNA-sequencing, multi-omics studies).

4. Experience in molecular biology, biochemistry and / or omics techniques; cell culture / iPSC experience is a plus

5. Candidates are expected to lead a project and establish collaborative research and must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Key Responsibilities include :

1. The postdoctoral fellow will lead a project on human iPSC-based disease modeling and therapeutic development for neuropsychiatric disorders such as alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder.

2. The postdoctoral fellow is expected to write progress reports and high-quality manuscripts for publication. Applying for postdoctoral fellowship and participating in grant applications are encouraged.

3. Dr. Ho will provide training for iPSC generation and maintenance, and lab techniques for functional genomic studies. The postdoctoral fellow will be responsible for routine cell culture for iPSCs and brain organoids. The postdoctoral fellow will use the data generated from the scRNA-seq and generate hypothesis and test in the lab. She/he will work closely with Dr. Ho for this grant to pursue the function and mechanisms of genes and pathways identified in the course of this project. She/he will have their own projects and build their bibliography during their postdoctoral training.

Qualifications

Must have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in a field deemed relevant by the program. Research Fellow is appropriate for individuals who have completed no more than one prior postdoctoral fellowship, at Mayo Clinic or elsewhere.

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