Postdoctoral Research Fellow- Molecular mechanisms of aging and accelerated aging in the human brain

Beth Israel Lahey Health • Boston, MA

6d • $60,000 - $75,564

About The Position

The Mavrikaki Lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard Medical School seeks a motivated and creative junior Postdoctoral Research Fellow to investigate molecular mechanisms driving brain aging and cognitive decline. The laboratory combines spatial transcriptomics, multi-omic approaches, molecular biology, and in vivo mouse models to identify pathways underlying brain aging. The fellow will build on research including spatial transcriptomic and microRNA atlases of the adult lifespan human prefrontal cortex and examine how specific cell populations regulate age-related cognitive function.

The fellow will conduct research under a principal investigator’s supervision while developing skills for independent work. The role includes designing and executing multi-omic and molecular profiling studies, conducting rodent experiments and behavioral phenotyping, contributing to cell-based target validation, publishing research, presenting results, mentoring junior lab members, and collaborating with other research groups. The fellow will also develop new research ideas and, under the PI’s direction, pursue independent funding near the end of the fellowship.

The position offers integration into a research program at BIDMC and Harvard Medical School, access to core facilities, human tissue resources, spatial transcriptomics infrastructure and bioinformatics support, and personalized mentorship in scientific independence, fellowship applications, and career planning. Staff must comply with BIDMC policies and the organization’s influenza vaccination requirement.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, or a closely related discipline; the job description also lists a doctoral degree or M.D.
• 0–1 year of postdoctoral research experience is listed in the required qualifications; the overview separately states 0–2 years of postdoctoral research experience.
• Strong foundational expertise in molecular biology techniques.
• First-author publications in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating productivity, critical thinking, and rigorous scientific execution.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational capabilities, and a collaborative mindset suited to an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Ability to make decisions guided by general instructions and practices, address varied problems through analysis or interpretation, and organize work within general guidelines.
• Ability to communicate moderately complex information in writing and comprehend and communicate complex verbal information in English.
• Ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of relevant concepts, practices, and policies and to lead collaborative teams.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience with rodent stereotaxic surgeries.
• Experience in aging research.
• Experience with in situ tissue analysis, including RNAscope or spatial assays.
• Experience with multi-omic datasets.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-omic pipelines, including spatial transcriptomics and bulk RNA-seq, and targeted tissue validation assays such as RNAscope, RT-qPCR, and immunohistochemistry.
• Lead rodent research involving stereotaxic viral deliveries, targeted manipulations, and behavioral phenotyping focused on cognitive assessment.
• Contribute to the design of cell-based assays to functionally validate candidate molecular targets.
• Conduct research under the supervision of a principal investigator, including formulating research questions, designing and conducting experiments, and evaluating results.
• Prepare and publish scientific manuscripts under the PI’s direction; present data and contribute to grant development.
• Collaborate across interdisciplinary teams and research groups, mentor junior laboratory members, and supervise students and their projects when appropriate.
• Attend and lead scientific seminars and collaborative meetings.
• Develop new ideas and expertise that advance the research program, and build proficiency with relevant research tools and equipment.
• Develop increasing independence, identify and correct deficiencies in one’s own performance, and pursue or secure independent funding near the end of the fellowship under the PI’s direction.
• Follow BIDMC policies relating to health and safety, equality of opportunity, and data storage and management.

Benefits

• Access to state-of-the-art core facilities, human tissue resources, advanced spatial transcriptomics infrastructure, and bioinformatics support.
• Personalized mentorship focused on scientific independence, fellowship application preparation, and career trajectory planning.
• Affiliation with BIDMC and Harvard Medical School.

What This Job Offers

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