Postdoctoral Research Associate - Developmental Biology

Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, MO seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead new studies on human cortical development and neurodevelopmental disorders.

You will leverage patient-derived iPSCs, organoids, and assembloids with multi-omics, hi-content imaging, and HD-MEA to uncover transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of interneuron and excitatory neuron specification. The role involves independent project leadership, collaboration with a multidisciplinary team,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, molecular biology, stem cell biology, or a related field.
• Strong publication record in cellular neurobiology, genomics, or stem cell models.
• Experience with hPSC models and directed differentiation into relevant lineages in 2-D and 3-D (organoid) culture.
• Experience with chromatin profiling (e.g., CUT&RUN/CUT&Tag) to define chromatin state and transcriptional regulation.
• Experience with high-content imaging and functional phenotyping.

Responsibilities

• Designs and executes experiments using hPSC models, organoids, and assembloids.
• Analyzes multi-omics datasets and integrates results with team workflows.
• Presents work at meetings and conferences; contributes to manuscripts and grants.
• Mentors trainees and maintains accurate research records.

Skills

Collaboration

Data analysis

Experimentation

Scientific writing

Education

Ph.D. in neuroscience or related field

Tools

CUT&RUN / CUT&Tag

RNA-seq

High-content imaging

HD-MEA

Job description

Location

ST. LOUIS, MO 63110

Position Summary

The Kroll laboratory is seeking Postdoctoral Research Associates to spearhead new investigations expanding upon our core research programs in human cortical development and neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, epilepsy, and brain overgrowth syndromes).

Fellows will drive independent projects leveraging our established human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) differentiation pipelines—utilizing patient-derived iPSCs, patterned brain organoids, and assembloids—alongside our multi-omics, high-content imaging, and HD-MEA functional assessment platforms. Successful candidates will collaborate closely with team members to uncover transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms governing GABAergic interneuron and excitatory neuron specification.

The Kroll laboratory focuses on defining transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory networks that build the human cerebral cortex, and how disruption of these programs causes neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. We study how cortical neural progenitors are specified and initiate neurogenesis, and how the two major classes of cortical neurons, glutamatergic excitatory neurons and GABAergic inhibitory interneurons, differentiate, mature, and assemble into functional networks.

To study these processes in human cells, we use directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including genome-edited and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), into cortical excitatory and inhibitory neurons and patterned brain organoids and assembloids. We combine these models with genome-wide approaches including defining changes in genome-wide transcription factor occupancy and histone modification state by CUT&RUN/Tag, RNA-seq, high-content imaging, and functional neuronal network assessment by high-density multi-electrode array. We also work with complementary mouse models to study aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/.

Lab Website: https://sites.wustl.edu/krolllab/.

Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to):

• Designs, performs, and interprets experiments using hPSC directed differentiation in 2-D and 3-D culture, genome-edited and patient-derived models, and molecular, cellular, genomic, and imaging methods.
• Defines chromatin state, transcription factor occupancy, and transcriptional regulation (e.g., CUT&RUN/CUT&Tag, RNA-seq), and analyzes and integrates these datasets using R/RStudio-based workflows, with primary data processing supported by the Bioinformatics Research Core.
• Presents work at lab meetings, institutional seminars, and national and international conferences.
• Prepares manuscripts and contributes to grant preparation and reporting.
• Helps mentor graduate and undergraduate trainees in the laboratory.
• Maintains accurate research records and complies with ethical standards, good laboratory practice, and University policies, including hPSC research oversight and biosafety requirements.
• Evaluates research findings and assists in the reporting of the results.
• Conscientious discharge of their research responsibilities.
• Maintains conformity with ethical standards in research.
• Maintains compliance with good laboratory practice including the maintenance of adequate research records.
• Engages in open and timely discussion with their mentor regarding possession or distribution of material, reagents, or records belonging to their laboratory and any proposed disclosure of findings or techniques privately or in publications.
• Collegial conduct towards co-trainees, staff members and members of the research group.
• Adherence to all applicable University policies, procedures and regulations. All data, research records and materials and other intellectual property generated in University laboratories remain the property of the University.

Expected Outcomes:

• Leads a research project resulting in first-author publication(s).
• Develops expertise in hPSC-based disease modeling and the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of human neurodevelopment.
• Prepares and submits applications for individual fellowship support (e.g., NIH F32, K99/R00, and foundation awards).
• Develops career skills in scientific writing, presentation, mentoring, and critical evaluation of literature.

Working Conditions:

This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards.The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Salary Range:

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, molecular biology, stem cell biology, or a related field.
• Strong publication record in cellular neurobiology, genomics, or stem cell models.
• Experience with hPSC models and directed differentiation into relevant lineages in 2-D and 3-D (organoid) culture.
• Experience with molecular and mechanistic approaches, including chromatin profiling (e.g., CUT&RUN/CUT&Tag) to define chromatin state, transcription factor occupancy, and transcriptional regulation, or molecular and pharmacological approaches to NDD phenotype reversal.
• Experience with high-content imaging and functional phenotyping of neuronal and network function.
• Experience analyzing and integrating multi-omics datasets, or a strong interest in learning.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Certifications** /Professional Licenses **:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills:

Collaboration, Data Analysis, Data Interpretations, Experimentation, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Techniques, Researching, Results Reporting, Scientific Writing

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [e-mail] or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity or shared ancestry, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. As a federal contractor, the university maintains affirmative action programs to implement its equal employment opportunity policy for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended.