Postdoctoral Scientist -Surgery Chair, Ergin Lab
About The Position
The Ergin Lab in the Department of Otolaryngology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow. The lab focuses on engineering next-generation AAV vectors for targeted gene delivery to cochlear cell populations and developing innovative genetic cargo designs for inherited and acquired forms of hearing loss. This role involves significant hands-on animal research, including mouse models of acquired hearing loss, cochlear microsurgery, therapeutic delivery, and auditory functional testing. It offers an opportunity to gain expertise in gene therapy, synthetic biology, high-throughput screenings, and translational therapeutic development. The Principal Investigator, Dr. Volkan Ergin, has experience in both academia and industry and provides mentorship for trainees interested in academic, industry, or entrepreneurial careers. Postdoctoral fellows will be encouraged to pursue independent funding opportunities.
Requirements
- PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant scientific field.
- Experience with animal research, including mouse models.
- Proficiency in microsurgery techniques.
- Experience with auditory functional testing (ABR, DPOAE).
- Strong analytical and interpretation skills.
- Ability to present experimental findings.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with gene therapy vector engineering.
- Knowledge of synthetic biology.
- Experience with high-throughput screenings.
- Experience in translational therapeutic development.
- Experience with NIH K99/R00 applications.
Responsibilities
- Perform mouse breeding, colony management, husbandry, and experimental planning.
- Conduct cochlear surgeries, therapeutic delivery, cochlear dissections, tissue preparation, and phenotypic analyses in adult mice.
- Perform cochlear injection techniques in adult mice, including round window membrane (RWM) injection and canalostomy.
- Conduct functional hearing testing, including Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE).
- Analyze, interpret, and present experimental findings.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
