Postdoctoral Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Guo Laboratory at the University of Florida is seeking a highly motivated, talented, and creative Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our dynamic multi-disciplinary team. Our research sits at the cutting edge of regenerative medicine and neurobiology, utilizing state-of-the-art human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models, 3D tissue engineering, and advanced multi-omic / bioinformatics integrations to model and dissect human diseases. Our lab focuses heavily on inventing and refining Next Approach Methodologies (NAMs)—specifically, brain organoids, Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) / Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier (BSCB) assembloids, and spinal cord/motor neuron models—to investigate the molecular and epitranscriptomic mechanisms driving neurodegenerative conditions like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD), as well as neurodevelopmental conditions including autism and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). The Guo Lab is exceptionally well-funded through major federal agencies and foundation awards—including NINDS, NIMH, NIDA, NIA, and the NSF—and regularly publishes in high-impact journals such as Nature, Cell Stem Cell, Nature Neuroscience, Nature Communications, Science Advances, Molecular Psychiatry, Advanced Science, The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Cell Discovery, and Protein & Cell. This position offers an unparalleled opportunity to spearhead high-profile projects, leverage robust resources, and work within the deeply collaborative, state-of-the-art academic ecosystem at UF Health and the McKnight Brain Institute.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advanced Cellular Engineering: Lead the directed differentiation of hiPSCs into highly enriched neural and vascular lineages (e.g., cortical neurons, motor neurons, astrocytes, microglia, brain endothelial cells, pericytes) to construct complex 3D assembloids and organ-on-a-chip platforms.
• Mechanistic Dissection: Deploy CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, shRNA/ASO tools, and pharmacological screens to interrogate pathological cellular axes.
• Multimodal Analytics: Perform and integrate high-resolution functional readouts, including whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, quantitative confocal/super-resolution microscopy, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and spatial transcriptomics.
• Scientific Leadership: Independently manage project milestones, draft high-impact manuscripts, present findings at premier international conferences, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students within a supportive lab ecosystem.

Expected Salary: $63,480-$65,000 commensurate with experience

Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Neurobiology, Stem Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field.

Preferred:

• Strong technical background in mammalian cell culture (experience with hiPSC/hESC maintenance and directed differentiation is highly preferred, but not required for candidates with exceptional molecular biology or electrophysiology expertise).
• Hands-on experience with 3D organoid, assembloid, or microfluidic/organ-on-a-chip modeling.
• Experience with whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology or multi-electrode arrays.
• Familiarity with computational biology pipelines (e.g., handling transcriptomic or scRNA-seq datasets using R or Python).

Special Instructions to Applicants: In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive University of Florida benefits package.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: Access to a brand-new, modern laboratory space within the Department of Neuroscience and McKnight Brain Institute, equipped with dedicated stem cell suites, high-resolution imaging cores, and advanced electrophysiology rigs.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Health Assessment Required: No