Postdoctoral Associate- Molecular and Circuit Basis of Sleep

Washington State University - Spokane; Occupational Sleep Medicine Group; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State University - Spokane; Occupational Sleep Medicine Group is offering a postdoctoral associate position to study the molecular and circuit basis of sleep. Candidates will utilize genetic approaches in Drosophila and mice, and are expected to have a Ph.D. and/or M.D. A strong background in mouse neural circuit manipulations and electrophysiology is desirable. This position is based in Baltimore, Maryland, and involves innovative research into sleep mechanisms related to neurological diseases.

Qualifications

• Applicants should have a Ph.D. and/or M.D.
• Experience with mouse neural circuit manipulations is desirable.
• A strong background in electrophysiology is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Study the molecular and circuit basis of sleep.
• Utilize genetic approaches in Drosophila and mice.
• Investigate homeostatic and circadian mechanisms regulating sleep.

Skills

Creative and highly motivated

Mouse neural circuit manipulations

Electrophysiology

Education

Ph.D. and/or M.D.

Job description

Overview

A postdoctoral associate position is available to study the molecular and circuit basis of sleep. We use sophisticated genetic approaches in Drosophila and mice to study the genes and circuitry underlying sleep, a fundamental and evolutionarily conserved behavior. We are studying the homeostatic and circadian mechanisms regulating sleep, and also have deep interest in understanding the functions of sleep and how sleep interacts with neurological disease. To carry out these studies, we combine molecular and genetic approaches with high‑throughput behavioral assays, immunohistochemical techniques, patch‑clamp electrophysiology, and in‑vivo functional imaging.

Website: www.markwulab.net

Qualifications

Applicants should have a Ph.D. and/or M.D. and be creative and highly motivated. A strong background in mouse neural circuit manipulations and electrophysiology is desirable.

Representative Publications

1. Lee, S.-S., Liu, Q., Cheng, A.H.R., Kim, D.W., Boudreau, D.M., Mehta, A., Keleş, M.F., Fejfer, R., Palmer, I., Park, K.H., Münzberg, H., Harris, T.D., Graves, A.R., Blackshaw, S., and Wu, M.N. (2025). Sleep Need-Dependent Plasticity of a Thalamic Circuit Promotes Homeostatic Recovery Sleep. Science 388, doi.org/10.1126/science.adm8203.
2. Keleş, M.F., Sapci, A.O.B., Brody, C., Palmer, I., Mehta, A., Ahmadi, S., Le, C., Tastan, Ö., Keleş, S., and Wu, M.N. (2025). FlyVISTA, an Integrated Machine Learning Platform for Deep Phenotyping of Sleep in Drosophila. Science Adv 11, doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq8131.
3. Liu, Q., Xiong, J., Kim, D.W., Lee, S.-S., Bell, B.J., Alexandre, C., Blackshaw, S., Latremoliere, A., and Wu, M.N. (2024). An amygdalar oscillator coordinates cellular and behavioral rhythms. Neuron 112, 3750-3767.
4. Liu, Q.*, Bell, B.J.*, Kim, D.-W., Lee, S.-S., Keles, M.F., Liu, Q., Blum, I.D., Wang, A.A., Blank, E.J., Xiong, J., Bedont, J.L., Chang, A.J., Issa, H., Cohen, J.Y., Blackshaw, S., and Wu, M.N. (2023). A Clock-Dependent Brake for Rhythmic Arousal in the Dorsomedial Hypothalamus. Nat Commun 14, 6381, doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41877-4.

Contact

Dr. Mark Wu, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Rangos 289855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States, Email: [e-mail]