POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR POSITION IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND CELL ENGINEERING FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE RESEARCH

Position Type: Postdoctoral Scholar
Location: University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Principal Investigator: Dr. Milos Simic, PhD
Start Date: Flexible

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral scholar to join our interdisciplinary research team. The successful candidate will lead projects and efforts toward the laboratory’s broader mission of developing cell-based therapies for CNS disorders. This position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of synthetic biology, immunology, and neuroscience using state-of-the-art technologies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD in Cell Biology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Bioengineering, or related field
• Strong background in molecular biology, cell culture, and protein engineering
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and transfection techniques
• Proficiency in standard molecular biology techniques (PCR, cloning, Western blotting, flow cytometry)
• Experience with data analysis and statistical software
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Strong organizational and project management skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with synthetic biology approaches and circuit design
• Background in immunology, particularly T cell biology or CAR-T cell engineering
• Experience with in vivo mouse models, especially neurological disease models
• Familiarity with neuroscience techniques and CNS biology
• Experience with advanced microscopy and imaging techniques
• Programming skills in R, Python, or MATLAB
• Prior experience with protein misfolding or neurodegenerative disease research
• Experience with cell engineering platforms (lentiviral systems, CRISPR/Cas9)

• Design and execute independent research projects related to engineered immune cells and neurodegenerative disease
• Develop and optimize synthetic biological circuits, including synNotch receptors and CAR systems
• Conduct cell culture, molecular cloning, and protein engineering experiments
• Perform in vivo studies using mouse models of neurological diseases
• Analyze complex datasets and interpret experimental results
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members and external collaborators
• Mentor graduate students and undergraduate researchers
• Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications
• Present research findings at scientific conferences
• Contribute to grant writing and funding applications