Postdoctoral Associate

Stony Brook University • Town of Brookhaven, NY

3d

About The Position

The Ballas lab in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Stony Brook University investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular focus on Rett syndrome and neuron–astrocyte interactions. Using patient-derived iPSC models alongside mouse models, our NIH-funded research integrates stem cell biology, molecular and cellular approaches, advanced imaging, and metabolic analyses to uncover how MeCP2 mutations impact astrocyte function, their ability to support neurons, and potential strategies for functional rescue. We are seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated candidate to join our team. The successful candidate will have strong communication skills and enthusiasm for collaborative research, will design and conduct experiments, analyze data, and contribute to publications and grant writing, while mentoring junior lab members

Requirements

• PhD (or foreign equivalent) in hand by May 2026.
• Strong background in neuroscience.
• Solid experience in molecular and cellular biology, including primary cell culture, imaging, and statistical data analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, and analyze experiments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with human pluripotent stem cell culture and differentiation into neurons and astrocytes.
• Expertise in mitochondrial function and metabolic assays.
• Experience generating or analyzing RNA-seq or other high-throughput datasets.
• Interdisciplinary research experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and analyze experiments leading to publications.
• Present research findings at lab meetings and conferences.
• Mentor junior lab members in specialized techniques.
• Contribute to manuscript and grant preparation.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees