Postdoctoral Scholar-Fixed Term

MSU Careers Details • Grand Rapids, MI

12h • Onsite

About The Position

Michigan State University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar for a prestigious MSU Research Foundation Postdoctoral Scholar position with two years of funding. The scholar will join Dr. Nicholas Kanaan’s laboratory in the Department of Translational Neuroscience at the MSU Grand Rapids Research Center. The lab studies the role of tau protein in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and tauopathies such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

The scholar will lead a project combining MERSCOPE-based protein labeling with disease-specific tau antibodies and MERFISH single-cell spatial transcriptomics in human PSP and control brain tissue. The goal is to identify cell types and molecular pathways activated by early pathogenic tau accumulation. Top candidate genes will be validated using Drosophila tauopathy models, primary mouse neuron cultures, and mouse models of tauopathy.

Experimental work may include rodent handling and husbandry, Drosophila line crossing and maintenance, harvesting and culturing primary mouse neurons, Western blotting, DNA cloning, cell-line culture, fresh tissue processing, immunohistochemical staining, and other biochemical and molecular techniques. The scholar will take a leading role in data collection and analysis, manuscript writing, and contributions to grant applications, with structured mentorship toward an independent academic career.

The position is based at the MSU Grand Rapids Research Center, 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Work involves animals or unfixed animal tissue. Applicants must complete criminal background and professional misconduct reviews as part of the hiring process. The department supports collaborative clinical, basic, and translational research in neurodegenerative diseases and provides educational and training opportunities for researchers committed to disease-oriented research.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree or equivalent in a scientific field; the required degree area is listed as terminal, with neuroscience, transcriptomics, and neurodegenerative disease specified.
• Multiple years of experience in a research laboratory.
• Experience performing basic research techniques in the specific or a related field.
• Fundamental understanding of molecular and cellular biology and neuroscience.
• Ability to independently carry out research; detail orientation and self-motivation.
• Ability to interact, communicate, and work well with others.
• Demonstrated record of publishing high-quality research.
• Experience with statistical analysis of data.
• Submit a CV or resume, a cover letter highlighting past accomplishments and future career goals, contact information for three or more references, and one or two representative publications.
• Complete the required professional misconduct review and sign the authorization and release for employer checks if proceeding in the application process.

Nice To Haves

• Experience or training in neuroscience and/or neurodegenerative disease research.
• Experience with single-cell or spatial genomics and/or model-based validation of gene function.
• Single-cell or spatial transcriptomics experience, such as MERFISH, Visium, or scRNA-seq, and associated bioinformatic analysis.
• Rodent handling experience, including animal husbandry, colony maintenance and genotyping, stereotaxic surgery or AAV delivery, necropsy, and post-mortem tissue processing.
• Drosophila handling, including line crossing and maintenance, phenotypic screening such as rough-eye assays, and fly brain analyses such as histology.
• Advanced gene and protein analysis experience, such as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, or qRT-PCR, and statistical analysis of data.

Responsibilities

• Lead a project using MERSCOPE-based protein labeling and MERFISH single-cell spatial transcriptomics in human PSP and control brain tissue.
• Identify cell types and molecular pathways activated by early pathogenic tau accumulation.
• Validate top candidate genes using Drosophila tauopathy models, primary mouse neuron cultures, and mouse models of tauopathy.
• Perform relevant experimental work, which may include rodent handling and husbandry, Drosophila line crossing and maintenance, primary mouse neuron culture, Western blotting, DNA cloning, cell-line culture, fresh tissue processing, and immunohistochemical staining.
• Collect and analyze research data.
• Write manuscripts and contribute to grant applications.
• Work toward an independent academic career with structured mentorship.

Benefits

• Two years of funding provided for the MSU Research Foundation Postdoctoral Scholar position.
• Structured mentorship toward an independent academic career.

What This Job Offers

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