Postdoctoral Research Associate - Developmental Neurobiology

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital • Memphis, TN

10d

About The Position

A postdoctoral research associate position with Dr. Xinwei Cao will investigate how transcriptional regulatory networks establish and maintain neural identity during brain development. The project examines how appropriate neural gene programs are activated while alternative lineage programs are repressed. It combines mouse genetic models, genome-wide profiling, and mechanistic assays to define how transcriptional regulators engage cofactors and select cis-regulatory elements to control gene expression in neural progenitors. The findings are expected to reveal principles of cell fate specification and provide insight into lineage infidelity in diseases such as cancer.

The postdoctoral fellow will receive personalized mentoring and regular guidance, feedback, and training in experimental, analytical, and scientific communication skills. They will be encouraged to take intellectual ownership of a defined project and will have opportunities to present research, contribute to manuscripts and grant writing, and participate in career-development activities. The lab is part of collaborative networks in developmental neurobiology, genomics, imaging, and computational biology, with access to institutional core resources.

Requirements

• PhD in biology or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with standard molecular biology techniques, such as molecular cloning.
• Ability to perform experiments consistently and rigorously.
• Ability to design experiments rationally and analyze data critically.
• Clear scientific communication skills, including writing, figure preparation, and presentations.
• Strong collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

• Strong background in developmental neurobiology and/or gene regulation.
• Experience with biochemistry and molecular biology skills involving protein–protein and protein–DNA interactions.
• Computational analysis of sequencing data using R, Python, or established pipelines.
• Strong publication record.

Responsibilities

• Perform and troubleshoot genomics assays, including bulk RNA-seq, CUT&RUN, ATAC-seq, and single-cell RNA-seq, and integrate datasets to identify regulatory mechanisms and key targets.
• Conduct in vivo and ex vivo functional studies, including in vivo perturbation experiments using viral delivery and electroporation, and quantitative histological and molecular phenotyping.
• Develop and apply in vitro mechanistic assays to study transcription factor interactions and transcription factor–DNA interactions.
• Maintain rigorous documentation and reproducible analysis workflows.
• Contribute to manuscripts, presentations, and grant-related writing.
• Participate in collaborative team science within the lab and with collaborators, including computational biology, bioinformatics, and gene regulation experts.

Benefits

• Access to shared resources and facilities led by expert scientists and supported by cutting-edge technology.
• Professional and career development programs, including grant-writing workshops, individual development plans, teaching and mentoring opportunities, and non-research career advancement programs.
• Professional development allowance.
• Competitive salary starting at $72,500 a year.
• Comprehensive benefits.
• Relocation assistance.
• A supportive postdoctoral community and collaborative environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree