Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate
About The Position
A Postdoctoral Researcher will join Dr. Annie Hiniker’s laboratory at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hiniker is the Norman and Mary Pattiz Foundation Endowed Associate Professor in Neuropathology and Director of the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Neuropathology Core. This NIH-funded project, conducted in close collaboration with Dr. Allison Kraus’s laboratory at Case Western Reserve University, will study when and where tau seeding emerges in the normal human brain and how tau seeds are modified by age, co-pathologies, inflammatory responses, and regional molecular changes. The research combines detailed human neuropathology with RT-QuIC seeding assays performed at the Kraus lab, biochemical characterization, transcriptomic analysis, and multiomic approaches. The Hiniker lab uses human neuropathology, cell and molecular biology, and molecular profiling to identify mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease, with a broad focus on protein aggregation and degradation. A major focus of this project is defining the distribution, biochemical features, and cellular correlates of tau seeds across aging and disease states, and identifying features of pathogenic tau seeds that drive neurodegenerative disease. The position includes research using well-characterized human brain tissue from neurodegenerative disease and control cohorts; neuropathologic analysis of tau, α-synuclein, TDP-43, amyloid beta, and related changes; integration of neuropathology with tau RT-QuIC and related seed amplification assays; biochemical and molecular biology studies of human brain tissue; generation and analysis of multiomic datasets; and preparation of manuscripts, figures, abstracts, and presentations. Applicants should hold, or soon receive, a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline. The minimum education requirement specifies a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate acquired within the previous four years.
Requirements
- Hold or soon receive a Ph.D. in neuroscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology, or a related discipline.
- Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate acquired within the previous four years.
Nice To Haves
- Strong publication record.
- Experience with neurodegenerative disease research.
- Experience with transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, or related molecular datasets.
- Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in neuroscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology, or a related area.
Responsibilities
- Conduct studies using well-characterized human brain tissue from neurodegenerative disease and control cohorts.
- Perform neuropathologic analysis via immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence of tau, α-synuclein, TDP-43, amyloid beta, and related changes.
- Integrate neuropathology with tau RT-QuIC and related seed amplification assays.
- Conduct biochemistry and molecular biology studies of human brain tissue.
- Generate and analyze multiomic datasets, including transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, and related molecular data.
- Prepare manuscripts, figures, abstracts, and presentations.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
