Post Doctoral Scholar

Function/Duties of Position

The Department of Pediatrics is recruiting for a Post Doctoral Scholar position.  The position is in the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Back studying cellular and molecular mechanisms of human white matter injury related to aging and cognitive decline.  The project utilizes a unique collection of human autopsy brains from subjects identified with vascular brain injury, Alzheimers Disease and MRI-defined white matter hyperintensity signal abnormalities (see: Annals of Neurology 70:465-476, 2011; Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, 75(6):539-554, 2016; Annals of Neurology 83:142-152, 2018).

This NIH-funded study will define mechanisms of white matter degeneration and myelination failure.  The project focuses on cellular targets of injury in MRI-defined white matter lesions including oligodendrocyte progenitors and oligodendrocytes that are susceptible to novel mechanisms of degeneration including ferroptosis (see Annals of  Neurology 94:1048-1066, 2023) Studies will involve investigation of mechanisms of cell death regulated by specific forms of the extracellular matrix molecule hyaluronic acid, which we have shown to play a role in myelination failure (see: Nature Med. 11:966-972, 2005; Annals of  Neurology 73:266-280, 2013; Journal of Clinical Investigation, 128: 2025-2041, 2018). 

The ideal candidate will have training in the neurobiology of aging and be familiar with human neuroanatomy, quantitative stereological approaches and cellular and molecular biology.  Strong organizational and leadership skills are required to handle complex human data sets, oversee junior research assistants and integrate with other sites in this multi-collaborator project that involves three teams of investigators across the U.S focused on:

• Autopsy brain acquisition and neuropathology evaluation.
• Studies related to the role of hyaluronic acid in myelination failure and inflammation using in vitro approaches.
• Human vascular physiology studies. Daily responsibilities include designing and conducting experiments, data acquisition and analysis, record-keeping and attending weekly lab meetings to present research findings.

Required Qualifications

• MD and/or PhD with a strong background in neuroscience.
• Computer knowledge
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Enthusiastic about their work
• Highly motivated to succeed in a multi-disciplinary/multi-collaborator setting that provides a wealth of opportunities in one of the major universities for neuroscience research in the U.S.

Preferred Qualifications

• Solid training in the neurobiology of aging at the PhD level is ideal.
• Solid experience with neuroanatomical  approaches (histopathology, stereology, computer-assisted image analysis using programs such as Image J, Stereoinvestigator, Neurolucida; Matlab) and standard techniques in immunohistochemistry, molecular and cellular neurobiology.

Additional Details

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