Post Doc - Open Rank

University of Massachusetts Medical School•Worcester, MA

11d•$62,232 - $75,564•Onsite

About The Position

Dr. Suzanne Tharin, MD, PhD, is seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Scholar to join a new, NIH-funded research laboratory at UMass Chan Medical School, an international leader in microRNA research. The lab's long-term goal is to understand the molecular controls over cortical neuronal development and regeneration, including stem cell-based strategies for spinal cord injury repair. Current work focuses on the role of microRNAs in shaping the development and regeneration of corticospinal motor neurons.

Requirements

Ph.D., MD/Ph.D., or equivalent degree in Neuroscience or a closely related field
Strong background in molecular biology techniques (RNA extraction, qPCR, cloning, etc.) and mammalian cell culture
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment
A strong drive to mentor undergraduate and graduate students in the lab

Nice To Haves

Experience with in utero electroporation of embryonic mouse brain (highly desirable)
Experience with in vivo rodent models, including stereotaxic surgeries, spinal cord injury models, and neural tracing techniques
Familiarity with transcriptomic analysis (e.g., RNA-seq, miRNA-seq)

Responsibilities

Investigating microRNA controls over corticospinal motor neuron development, specifically examining how differentially expressed microRNAs direct differentiation between corticospinal motor neurons and callosal projection neurons
Identifying the targets of differentially regulated microRNAs in corticospinal motor neurons and their downstream effects on dendritic morphology and neuron-subtype identity
Studying the in vivo response of corticospinal motor neurons to differentially expressed microRNAs, and evaluating their potential roles in promoting cellular recovery and axon regeneration