The Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) was established in 2010 to plot a new course in biomedical research that would change the lives of individuals affected with developmental brain disorders. We are one of the only research institutions in the world focused specifically on understanding how genes and the environment influence the way our brains develop that lead to conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder and related developmental brain disorders. Through our cutting-edge research, answers are emerging and being translated into a robust pipeline of new drugs in development. And, by focusing on genes and their dynamic interplay with the environment, we are getting even closer to the 'holy grail' in medical research, the discovery of strategies for primary prevention. We are a group of dedicated, multidisciplinary and optimistic researchers, working at the cutting edge of science, utilizing state-of-the-art tools to unlock the mystery of the brain and transform the way we approach the development of new treatments, and ultimately cures. LIBD is an independent 501(c)(3) medical research institute located in the Bioscience Park on the campus of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Hospital in Baltimore, MD. We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Staff Scientist with significant experience in cell cultures and molecular biology, to join the URSINI lab at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development located on the Johns Hopkins medical campus in Baltimore, Maryland. Our team aims at identifying the early life mechanisms affecting trajectories of risk for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders, so that strategies of early prevention could be defined. By joining our lab, the scientist will leverage iPSC-derived 2D and 3D trophoblast cultures to understand the contribution of placenta to brain development and disorders like schizophrenia. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a novel area of research with a high translational potential in a dynamic, collaborative environment.