Research Fellow - Neurology - Cousin lab

Mayo Career Site UK; Rochester (MN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cousin Lab at Mayo Clinic is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to lead experimental and analytical work in a growing rare disease program, focusing initially on POLR2A-related disorders. The role emphasizes patient-derived models, variant interpretation, RNA-targeted therapies, and gene editing, with collaboration across core facilities and external partners.

You will drive model development, data integration, and translational effort, while mentoring junior staff and preparing manuscripts and

Responsibilities

• Lead experimental and analytical components of translational rare disease projects.
• Develop and characterize patient-derived and engineered disease models.
• Define variant effects and disease mechanisms.
• Design and evaluate RNA-targeted and gene-editing strategies.
• Integrate genomic, functional, and clinical data to prioritize treatments.
• Coordinate with collaborators to align samples, models, and workflows.
• Prepare figures, reports, manuscripts, and grant proposals; mentor juniors.

Skills

Wet-lab skills

Data analysis

Grant writing

Scientific communication

Mentorship

Tools

CRISPR

iPSC technology

Sequencing

Job description

The Cousin Lab at Mayo Clinic is seeking a postdoctoral fellow will contribute to a growing rare disease therapeutics program with an initial emphasis on POLR2A-related disorders. This work will also support broader efforts in the lab, including genetic forms of ALS and other monogenic neurologic conditions. Projects may include iPSC-derived neural models, variant-mechanism studies, RNA-targeted therapies, genome editing, sequencing-based biomarkers, and collaboration with Mayo Clinic precision medicine and N-of-1 therapeutic programs, core facilities, and external academic partners.

The Cousin Lab at Mayo Clinic develops mechanism-guided, gene-targeted therapeutic strategies for rare neurogenetic diseases. Our work integrates clinical genetics, patient-derived biospecimens, functional genomics, iPSC-based disease modeling, preclinical therapeutic testing, and clinical translation.

Position Overview

The fellow will lead experimental and analytical components of translational rare disease projects. The role includes developing and characterizing patient-derived and engineered cell models; defining variant effects and disease mechanisms; designing and evaluating RNA-targeted and gene-editing therapeutic strategies; and integrating functional, genomic, and clinical data to prioritize treatment approaches. The position involves substantial wet-lab research, quantitative data analysis, manuscript and grant preparation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The fellow will join a collaborative Mayo Clinic environment with access to clinical expertise, core facilities, genomic and sequencing resources, translational infrastructure, and multi-institutional rare disease networks. This position offers the opportunity to develop an independent research niche at the interface of rare disease biology, human neural modeling, and targeted therapeutic development; publish first-author manuscripts; present at national and international meetings; and pursue external fellowship or career-development funding.

Key Responsibilities

• Disease Modeling & Assay Development:Develop and characterize patient-derived and engineered disease models, including fibroblasts, iPSCs, isogenic controls, iPSC-derived neural cell types, and organoid or multicellular systems.
• Mechanistic & Functional Studies:Design and execute molecular, cellular, imaging, electrophysiologic, and functional genomics assays to define variant effects, disease mechanisms, cellular phenotypes, biomarkers, and therapeutic response.
• Therapeutic Development:Develop and evaluate RNA-targeted and gene-editing strategies, including ASO/siRNA, allele-selective or splice-modifying approaches, CRISPR/base-editing platforms, delivery systems, and target-engagement or rescue assays.
• Genomic Data Integration:Integrate variant interpretation, sequencing data, and functional readouts to prioritize therapeutic strategies and evaluate loss-of-function, dominant-negative, allele-specific, and related mechanisms.
• Collaboration & Translation:Coordinate with the PI, clinicians, partners, core facilities, biobanks, and external collaborators to align patient samples, disease models, assays, and preclinical workflows.
• Scientific Communication & Mentorship:Manage projects with rigor and reproducibility; prepare figures, reports, manuscripts, presentations, and grant/fellowship applications; and contribute to mentoring junior team members.