Post Doctoral Associate-Kozai Lab at UPMC

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

30 Sep, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

02 Jul, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Immunohistochemistry, Confocal Microscopy, Multiphoton Imaging, Flow Cytometry, qPCR, Western Blot, RNA-seq, R, Python, MATLAB, ImageJ/Fiji, Rodent Surgery, iPSC-derived Cultures, Quantitative Data Analysis, Neuroinflammation Research, Glial Biology

Industry

Hospitals and Health Care

Description

The Department of Bioengineering is seeking a Post Doctoral Associate to investigate how glial and neurovascular biology shapes the brain’s chronic response to perturbation. This position is funded by an NIH R01 studying how microglia, astrocyte, oligodendrocyte health and myelination influence long-term neural circuit function, and is designed for researchers trained in glial biology, neuroimmunology, neurovascular science, or the neurobiology of disease who want to apply their expertise to mechanistic questions at the interface of glial cell biology and neural circuit function. Researchers whose training is in Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, stroke, or other conditions involving neuroinflammation, demyelination, or neurovascular disruption will find that their disease-model expertise applies directly to the questions we study, where many of the same pathological cascades operate in a system that is experimentally accessible at cellular resolution. Key Responsibilities • Design and execute experiments characterizing microglial, astrocytic, oligodendrocytic, and neurovascular responses to chronic CNS perturbation using immunohistochemistry, confocal and multiphoton imaging, flow cytometry, and molecular assays (qPCR, Western blot, RNA-seq). • Investigate how glial phenotypic transitions evolve over time and how they are modulated by pharmacological interventions, genetic tools, and environmental parameters. • Characterize oligodendrocyte and myelin dynamics, including OPC proliferation, differentiation, and remyelination potential, in the context of chronic neuroinflammation. • Develop and apply in vitro platforms (primary glial cultures, iPSC-derived microglia, co-culture systems) to model glial-neuronal-vascular interactions under controlled conditions. • Integrate biological characterization with ongoing electrophysiology, imaging, and computational modeling efforts within the lab and across collaborative teams. • Contribute to active manuscript projects on myelin remodeling, metabolic dysfunction, and glial coordination at the neural interface. • Build analysis pipelines for histological, transcriptomic, and proteomic datasets using R, Python, MATLAB, or ImageJ/Fiji. • Prepare results for peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference presentations, and grant applications. • Mentor graduate and undergraduate trainees in experimental methods and quantitative analysis. Job Requirements • Ph.D. in neuroscience, neurobiology, biomedical engineering, molecular/cellular biology, immunology, physiology, or a related field. • Demonstrated research experience studying glial cells (microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes), neuroinflammation, neurovascular biology, or the tissue response to CNS injury or disease. • Hands-on experience with at least two of the following: immunohistochemistry, confocal or multiphoton microscopy, flow cytometry, rodent surgical procedures, molecular assays (qPCR, Western blot, ELISA), or RNA-seq. • Proficiency in quantitative data analysis using R, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent tools. • Strong record of scientific productivity, including first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals. Preferred • Experience with in vivo rodent models of neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, demyelination, traumatic brain injury, or stroke. • Experience with iPSC-derived glial cultures or in vitro co-culture systems modeling neuro-glial interactions. • Familiarity with transcriptomic or proteomic analysis pipelines (e.g., DESeq2, IPA, Cytoscape). • Background in oligodendrocyte biology, myelination, or OPC dynamics. • Interest in translational neuroscience, neural interfaces, or neurostimulation. Prior device experience is welcome but not required; training will be provided. About the Lab Microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes coordinate the brain’s response to injury and disease, yet the mechanisms governing their activation, communication, and long-term phenotypic trajectories remain poorly characterized in vivo. Progress has been limited in part because the perturbations studied in most disease models (amyloid accumulation, diffuse axonal injury, autoimmune demyelination) are spatially dispersed, temporally uncontrolled, and difficult to access longitudinally at cellular resolution. The B.I.O.N.I.C. Lab (bioniclab.org) at the University of Pittsburgh uses chronically implanted neural devices as a controlled, spatially defined, and longitudinally accessible perturbation model to study these glial and neurovascular responses with tools that include two-photon imaging, high-density electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and transcriptomics. Because the same microglial activation, astrocytic scarring, blood-brain barrier disruption, and demyelination that limit neural device longevity also drive progression in Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and stroke, the biological questions are shared even though the clinical context differs. Solving them advances both the basic science of glial-neuronal-vascular coordination and the translational goal of building brain-computer interfaces and neurostimulation therapies that work reliably for years. Collaborative Environment The position includes opportunities for cross-training across the laboratories of Drs. Franca Cambi (VA Pittsburgh, myelin and oligodendrocyte biology), Alberto Vazquez (hemodynamic and neurovascular imaging), and collaborators in cortical circuit physiology and neurostimulation. The broader environment includes UP NExT (University of Pittsburgh Neural Engineering Cross-Translation), which bridges the Swanson School of Engineering, School of Medicine, and Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, as well as the BRIDGE-STIM 2027 workshop series connecting researchers across institutions. Career Development The postdoctoral associate will gain expertise at the intersection of glial biology and neural circuit function, a niche with growing demand and few trained investigators. The position provides access to a full translational pipeline (rodent through human participants), experience with multi-PI collaborative science, and mentoring in grant writing, manuscript preparation, and scientific communication. The lab supports postdoctoral career development toward independent faculty positions, and the combination of glial biology training with neural engineering context creates a distinctive research identity that is increasingly competitive for R01-level funding.

Responsibilities

The associate will design and execute experiments to characterize glial and neurovascular responses to CNS perturbations using imaging and molecular assays. They will also develop in vitro platforms and integrate biological data with computational modeling and electrophysiology.