Post Doctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow in Translational Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders

The Translational Neuroscience Laboratory at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders and stress-related symptoms. The position will focus on human postmortem brain studies integrating single-cell transcriptomics, advanced microscopy and quantitative image analysis, and primary human brain cell culture.

Research Program

The fellow will contribute to a multidisciplinary research program examining how stress and immune signaling affect multicellular interactions among neurons, glia, and the neurovascular unit (NVU). The NVU—including brain endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, neurons, and the vascular basal lamina—is positioned at the interface between systemic and neural processes and may play a critical role in translating immune and metabolic dysregulation, chronic stress, and other challenges into altered neural function and psychiatric symptoms.

The research investigates the hypothesis that stress-related symptom dimensions—including anxiety, irritability, depression, anhedonia, and related constructs—are associated with impaired NVU homeostatic reserve: the capacity of NVU cells to respond adaptively to stress and immune challenges. Studies will examine coordinated gene-expression programs across neuronal, glial, and vascular cell populations and determine how their disruption relates to clinically relevant symptom dimensions across psychiatric diagnoses.

The postdoctoral fellow will work with deeply characterized human postmortem brain specimens, primarily from the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex, and with cellular preparations derived from the same donors. Molecular and cellular findings will be integrated with transdiagnostic clinical phenotypes derived from extensive health records using natural-language-processing approaches.

Research Activities and Responsibilities

• Conduct studies using well-characterized human postmortem brain specimens from donors with psychiatric disorders and unaffected comparison donors.
• Perform advanced fluorescence microscopy, multiplex in situ RNA and protein detection, and quantitative image analysis.
• Investigate cellular morphology, cytoarchitecture, microvascular organization, and structural features of the blood–brain barrier and NVU.
• Establish and study primary human astrocyte, microglial, and brain endothelial cell cultures derived from postmortem brain tissue.
• Conduct experiments using iPSC-derived glial and vascular cell models, including comparisons with primary cells and native brain tissue from the same donors.
• Design experiments examining cellular responses to cytokines, stress neuropeptides, and other immune or metabolic challenges.
• Apply single-cell or single-nucleus transcriptomic approaches to whole brain tissue, isolated microvasculature, and cultured cells.
• Analyze cell-type-specific and coordinated multicellular gene-expression programs involving neurons, astrocytes, microglia, endothelial cells, pericytes, and other NVU components.
• Integrate molecular, cellular, morphological, and functional measures with transdiagnostic dimensions of stress-related symptoms.
• Work collaboratively with investigators specializing in psychiatry, neuropathology, stem-cell biology, genomics, computational biology, and clinical phenotyping.
• Contribute to experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript preparation, scientific presentations, and grant applications.
• Develop independent research questions and pursue opportunities for fellowship and career-development funding.

Training and Research Environment

The fellow will join a collaborative translational neuroscience environment at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, with access to exceptional human brain resources, advanced imaging and genomic technologies, and multidisciplinary expertise. The position provides opportunities to acquire new experimental and computational skills, develop an independent scientific direction, present findings at national and international conferences, publish in high-impact journals, and prepare competitive applications for independent funding.

Qualifications

Candidates should hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in neuroscience, molecular or cellular biology, neurobiology, neuropathology, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline.

Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable:

• Fluorescence or confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis
• Human postmortem brain research, neuroanatomy, or neuropathology
• Primary cell culture or iPSC-derived neural, glial, or vascular cells
• Single-cell or single-nucleus RNA sequencing
• Molecular biology, histology, or multiplex RNA/protein detection
• Blood–brain barrier or neurovascular-unit biology
• Glial biology, neuroimmunology, or stress and immune signaling
• Bioinformatics, transcriptomic analysis, or integration of multimodal datasets

Strong candidates will demonstrate scientific curiosity, careful attention to experimental rigor, excellent organizational and communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Prior experience in every methodology is not required; training will be tailored to the fellow's background and research goals.

If interested in the position, please email a cover letter, CV, and three references to Sabina Berretta, M.D. (View email address on click.appcast.io)

EXPERIENCE: Prior lab experience required. Must have evidence of strong scientific productivity, including peer-reviewed publications. Open to highly motivated candidates with a relevant background.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Assistance in guiding research technicians and trainees in the lab is expected.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Work will be performed in a fast-paced research laboratory environment, requiring teamwork, collaboration, and flexibility. Must be able to work independently.

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

Physical Requirements

• Standing Frequently
• Walking Frequently
• Sitting Occasionally
• Lifting Frequently
• Carrying Frequently
• Pushing Occasionally
• Pulling Occasionally
• Climbing Rarely
• Balancing Frequently
• Stooping Occasionally
• Kneeling Occasionally
• Crouching Occasionally
• Crawling Rarely
• Reaching Frequently
• Gross Manipulation (Handling) Frequently
• Fine Manipulation (Fingering) Frequently
• Feeling Constantly
• Foot Use Rarely
• Vision - Far Constantly
• Vision - Near Constantly
• Talking Constantly
• Hearing Constantly

The salary range for this position is $2,080 to $3,120,000 annually. At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience, education, certifications, and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package.

In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums, and bonuses as applicable, along with recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite candidates to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of their potential compensation and benefits package.

Remote Type

Onsite

Work Location

115 Mill Street

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Employee Type

Regular

Work Shift

Day (United States of America)

EEO Statement:

1600 The McLean Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran's Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io.