Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Mayo Clinic; Rochester (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN invites applications for a Research Fellow with a strong background in stem cell biology and brain-related disease modeling.

The fellow will develop human-relevant platforms such as brain organoids and microfluidic organ-chips, collaborate across disciplines, and advance translational therapeutic strategies.

Candidates with hiPSC culture, organoid engineering, and neural differentiation are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with hiPSC culture and differentiation.
• Experience with organoids, microfluidic systems, or organ‑on‑chip platforms is a plus.
• Strong background in stem cell biology, developmental biology, neuroscience, or cancer biology.

Responsibilities

• Develop brain organoids and brain/organoid-on-chip models.
• Collaborate across disciplines to model brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Generate patient-specific hiPSC models and neural/neurovascular cell types.
• Explore stem cell therapies and evaluate therapeutic strategies in organoid systems.

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow with a strong background in human stem cell biology, developmental biology, neuroscience, cancer biology, bioengineering, or a related field. Candidates with hands‑on experience in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) culture, directed differentiation, 3D organoid models, or microfluidic cell and tissue culture systems are particularly encouraged to apply.

The fellow will contribute to the development of advanced human‑relevant experimental platforms, including brain organoids, brain tumor organoids, patient‑derived tumor organoids, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) hiPSC‑derived neural models and brain organoids, vascularized brain organoids, blood‑brain barrier (BBB) models and assembloids, and microfluidic organ‑on‑chip and brain‑organoid‑on‑chip systems. Research may include generation of patient‑specific hiPSC models from primary patient cells, differentiation into neural and neurovascular cell types, development of multicellular 3D tissue models, and integration of neural, vascular, immune, and tumor components within microfluidic chip‑based platforms to model the brain microenvironment, neurovascular interface, brain tumors, and neurodegenerative disease.

A major goal is to use these advanced human model systems for brain tumor biology, Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegenerative disease modeling, therapeutic discovery, drug delivery, BBB penetration studies, high‑content and functional drug screening, and cell‑based therapeutic development. The fellow may develop patient‑specific AD hiPSC‑derived neurons, glial cells, neurovascular models, and brain organoids to investigate disease mechanisms and evaluate candidate therapeutic strategies.

The fellow will also have opportunities to explore stem cell‑based and engineered cell therapies, including evaluation of cell survival, differentiation, migration, functional integration, and therapeutic activity in advanced organoid and organ‑on‑chip models.

The fellow will work collaboratively with investigators in chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, cancer biology, neuroscience, neurodegenerative disease, cell therapy, regenerative medicine, bioengineering, genomics, and computational biology to develop innovative therapeutic, drug‑screening, and disease‑modeling technologies.

Preferred experience includes one or more of the following: hiPSC/hESC culture and differentiation; patient‑derived hiPSC disease models; Alzheimer’s disease or other neurodegenerative disease iPSC models; brain tumor organoids or patient‑derived tumor organoids; stem cell‑derived brain organoids; organoid and assembloid engineering; microfluidics, lab‑on‑a‑chip, organ‑on‑chip, or tissue‑on‑chip technologies; BBB or neurovascular models; cell therapy or regenerative medicine; CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing; advanced microscopy and quantitative imaging; transcriptomic or single‑cell analyses; and pharmacological, high‑throughput, or high‑content screening.

Prior expertise in chemical biology, pharmacology, or cell therapy is desirable but not required. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong expertise in stem cell biology, brain organoids, brain tumor organoids, neurodegenerative disease modeling, or microfluidic bioengineering who are enthusiastic about applying these technologies to translational therapeutic development through multidisciplinary collaborations.