Postdoctoral Associate - Deverman Lab in Cambridge

The Deverman lab at the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard is looking for an exceptional and energetic postdoctoral researcher or research scientist to join a rapidly growing, multidisciplinary technology development research effort aimed at developing AAV vectors that enable targeted gene expression in a range of disease-relevant CNS neuronal populations.

We seek a candidate to join an exciting and funded project aimed at developing gene regulatory elements and custom AAV capsids that will enable modern genetically encoded tools to be specifically expressed within specific neuronal subclasses. This project is a collaboration between multiple laboratories at the Broad Institute. The role will include project planning, hands-on bench work, reporting results to leadership, collaborators, funding agencies, and contributing to scientific manuscripts and presentations. The successful candidate will be an employee of the Broad Institute and will have access to a wide array of internal career development opportunities and scientific talks throughout the wider Harvard/MIT research ecosystem.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES

• Develop, refine and apply novel high-throughput selection and screening methods to develop novel capsids and gene expression systems
• Apply gene delivery strategies to multiple in vivo and in vitro models
• Use standard molecular biology techniques for plasmid construction, PCR, qPCR, RNA and DNA extraction and detection, and next generation sequencing (NGS)
• Conduct and/or supervise the production, purification and evaluation of AAV
• Troubleshoot to resolve problems and participate in new technology evaluation, development and implementation
• Document, compile, and analyze experimental data
• Attend and present at team meetings to share results, plan projects and experiments
• Make significant contributions to scientific manuscripts, funding agency reports, and conference presentations
• Supervise the activities of one or more research associates
• Work closely with team members to design, implement and troubleshoot experiments critical to the group’s collective success

QUALIFICATIONS

• 0-1+ years of related experience
• A PhD in a relevant discipline molecular or cell biology, neuroscience, or related disciplines
• Experience with molecular biology techniques
• Familiarity with NGS, high-throughput screening methods, immunohistochemistry/in situ hybridization, and production of gene delivery vectors is strongly desired
• Hands on experience with stereotaxic injections
• Knowledge of bioinformatics and statistics is helpful but not required
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated track record of, and continued interest in, working as part of a large cross-disciplinary collaboration in a fast-paced research environment
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills