The Barmada & Mosalaganti Labs at the University of Michigan are looking for a postdoctoral research fellow to join their research team to establish faithful in vitro models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The successful candidate will also leverage these models to recapitulate and investigate disease-associated patterns of protein aggregation, uncovering basic mechanisms of disease and paving the way for new biomarkers. 

The Barmada Lab has a long-standing interest in delineating the molecular underpinnings of ALS and FTD through a combination of neuroscience, molecular biology, genome engineering, longitudinal microscopy, and stem cell biology. In a complementary fashion, the Mosalaganti lab uses cryo-electron tomography, correlative light, and electron microscopy approaches to elucidate structure of disease-related protein complexes in situ.

As a postdoctoral fellow, you will have unencumbered access to state-of-the-art equipment and microscopes located in the Department of Neurology and at the Life Sciences Institute, including a Leica Stellaris cryo-confocal, an Aquilos2, a Titan Krios G4i (with K3, Bioquantum imaging filter, and phase plate), and an Oxford Nanoimager. 

     Experimental responsibilities include:

• Culture, maintenance and differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells
• Experience with direct differentiation of fibroblasts into neurons
• Primary cell isolation and culturing
• PCR and quantitative reverse transcriptase (qRT)-PCR
• Genome editing (i.e. CRISPR/Cas9) and manipulation
• Bioinformatics
• Immunostaining
• Western blotting
• Fluorescence microscopy

     Non-experimental responsibilities will include:

• Collaborating with students, postdoctoral fellows, and lab staff
• Overseeing the training of new lab members
• Attendance and presentation and lab meetings and journal clubs

• PhD (or equivalent) in cell biology, genetics or related discipline.
• 5-6 years total related experience 
• >2 years experience in light and confocal microscopy (imaging/data processing)
• >2 years experience with primary cultures or stem cells
• Familiarity with computational biology and image based analyses
• Familiarity with CRISPR/Cas9 and molecular biology/cloning
• Familiarity with bioinformatics approaches
• Ability to work independently and as a team player
• Experience in structural biology is a plus

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.