Postdoctoral Scientist – Inner Ear Research & Cochlear Gene Therapy – Otolaryngology

Cedars-Sinai; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join the Ergin Lab in the Department of Otolaryngology. The role focuses on engineering next‑generation AAV vectors for targeted gene delivery to cochlear cell populations and developing genetic cargo designs for inherited and acquired forms of hearing loss, with hands‑on animal work.

You will perform mouse breeding and cochlear surgeries, deliver therapies, conduct ABR and DPOAE testing, analyze data,

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, MD/PhD, VMD, or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with inner ear biology and hearing research.
• Experience with mouse models under IACUC-approved protocols.
• Experience performing functional hearing assessments (ABR/DPOAE).
• Hands-on experience with cochlear injection techniques.
• Ability to design experiments, analyze data, and communicate findings effectively.
• Desirable experience with noise-induced, age-related, or ototoxicity-induced hearing loss models.

Responsibilities

• Perform mouse breeding, colony management, husbandry, and experimental planning.
• Conduct cochlear surgeries, therapeutic delivery, cochlear dissections, tissue preparation, and phenotypic analyses in adult mice.
• Perform cochlear injection techniques in adult mice, including round window membrane (RWM) injection and canalostomy.
• Conduct functional hearing testing, including ABR and DPOAE.
• Analyze, interpret, and present experimental findings.

Skills

Mouse models

Experiment design

Data analysis

Scientific communication

Husbandry

Education

PhD, MD, MD/PhD, VMD, or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

Principal Investigator Dr. Volkan Ergin is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to join the Ergin Lab in the Department of Otolaryngology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Effective gene therapies require both efficient delivery vehicles and well-designed therapeutic cargos. The Ergin Lab addresses these challenges by engineering next-generation AAV vectors for targeted gene delivery to cochlear cell populations and developing innovative genetic cargo designs for inherited and acquired forms of hearing loss.

A substantial portion of this role involves hands-on animal research, including mouse models of acquired hearing loss, cochlear microsurgery, therapeutic delivery, and auditory functional testing. The position offers a unique opportunity to gain expertise across multiple disciplines, spanning gene therapy, synthetic biology, high-throughput screenings, and translational therapeutic development.

Dr. Ergin brings experience from both academia and industry, providing valuable mentorship for trainees interested in academic careers, industry positions, or entrepreneurial ventures. Postdoctoral fellows will be encouraged to pursue independent funding opportunities, including NIH K99/R00 awards and other career development mechanisms.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform mouse breeding, colony management, husbandry, and experimental planning.
• Conduct cochlear surgeries, therapeutic delivery, cochlear dissections, tissue preparation, and phenotypic analyses in adult mice.
• Perform cochlear injection techniques in adult mice, including round window membrane (RWM) injection and canalostomy.
• Conduct functional hearing testing, including Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE).
• Analyze, interpret, and present experimental findings.

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, MD/PhD, VMD, or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant field.
• Research experience in inner ear biology and hearing research.
• Experience working with mouse models under IACUC-approved protocols.
• Experience performing functional hearing assessments, including ABR and DPOAE.
• Hands-on experience with cochlear injection techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data, and communicate scientific findings effectively.
• Experience with noise-induced, age-related, or ototoxicity-induced hearing loss models is desirable.

Interested candidates should submit:

• CV
• A cover letter describing previous research experience, particularly in inner ear research, and outlining long-term career goals