Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychiatric Disease Stem Cell Modeling and Genomics
University of California Los Angeles
United States

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An NIH-funded full-time position for a Post-Doctoral Fellowshp is immediately available, jointly supervised by Dr. Luis de la Torre Ubieta and Dr. Michael Gandal in the David Geffen School of Medicine and the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. We are looking for a motivated researcher interested in working at the interface of experimental stem cell biology and psychiatric genomics, to investigate the mechanisms of disease genetics through neural stem cell modeling of human brain development.

The de la Torre Ubieta (LTU) and Gandal labs are located within the interdisciplinary Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) at UCLA. The LTU lab focuses on experimental and developmental neurobiology, modeling of human cortical development using stem cells, and gene regulation. The Gandal lab employs systems-level, computational, multi-omic approaches using human brain samples to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying genetic risk for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Our long-term goals are to translate genetic findings into practical therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disease.

A successful candidate will have the following qualifications:
• PhD in biological sciences
• Ability to work independently within a collaborative multi-disciplinary team based environment
• Motivation to learn and develop expertise in cutting-edge genome engineering and stem cell based methodologies
• Strong oral and written communication skills to present and publish research findings
• Track record training and mentoring junior scientists

Experience with cell culture and neural stem cell models, functional genomics assays (e.g., scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq), and/or CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering are preferred but not required. All backgrounds will be considered. The appointed researcher will be embedded within a highly interdisciplinary team of neural stem cell and developmental biologists, computational biologists, bioinformaticians, statistical geneticists, and clinicians. The successful candidate will help develop and implement high-throughput genome engineering and genomic assays in human neural progenitor cell lines. Training opportunities and mentorship in wet-lab stem cell modeling and dry-lab genomics techniques will be uniquely provided by the joint PIs.

Please email a cover letter, CV, and 3 references to Luis de la Torre Ubieta (LDeLaTorreUbieta @mednet.ucla.edu) and Michael Gandal (mgandal@mednet.ucla.edu) and also upload to the application portal at: https:// https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/apply/JPF07414.

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• PhD in neuroscience, psychology, neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience or similar
• Ability to work independently within a collaborative multi-disciplinary team based environment
• Experience with multivariate statistics
• Experience processing and analyzing neuroimaging data
• Programming experience (e.g. python, Matlab, R)
• Motivation to learn and develop expertise in cutting-edge neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques
• Strong oral and written communication skills to present and publish research findings

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

The candidate will submit names and contact information only.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees must (a) provide proof of receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 Vaccine no later than 14 calendar days after their first date of employment and provide proof of Full Vaccination no later than eight weeks after their first date of employment; or (b) if applicable, submit a request for Exception or Deferral no later than 14 calendar days after their first date of employment. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.