Job Description
Are you ready to be a part of breakthrough research? Take action now by applying to this great opportunity!
Cedars-Sinai offers scientists unparalleled access to ground breaking technologies, facilities, and resources for conducting research related to an impressive range of diseases and disorders, from cancer, cardiology, and digestive diseases, to genetics, genomics, neurosciences, and women's health.
Dr. Bahareh Ajami invites you to consider this Postdoctoral Scientist opportunity to join her dynamic team!
About the Team
The Ajami Lab is establishing a new research program at Cedars-Sinai focused on immune mechanisms of hearing loss.
The Ajami Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is seeking an outstanding and highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join our growing Neuroimmunology Research Program.
The successful candidate will join a vibrant and expanding research program supported by a recently awarded NIH R01 (6th percentile) and an ALS Breakthrough Research Grant from the Milken Institute. These projects investigate how the innate immune system regulates neurodegeneration, with a particular focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Using human postmortem tissues, spatial transcriptomics, spatial proteomics, single-cell genomics, CRISPR genome engineering, and human iPSC-derived microglia and motor neuron models, our goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets that can be translated into effective immunomodulatory therapies for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
This position offers an exceptional opportunity to work at the interface of neuroimmunology, spatial biology, genomics, stem cell biology, and translational neuroscience while contributing to highly collaborative, multidisciplinary research with direct clinical relevance.
About the Role
Working independently but in close collaboration and in consultation with the Principal Investigator and other Research Scientist, the Postdoctoral Scientist will perform routine and sophisticated laboratory procedures throughout this training period. The incumbent may develop, adapt, and implement new research techniques and protocols. This position is not responsible for generating grant funds.
The successful candidate will participate in projects involving:
- Human postmortem brain and spinal cord tissues
- Spatial transcriptomics
- Spatial proteomics (CODEX)
- Single-cell RNA sequencing
- Human iPSC-derived microglia and motor neuron models
- CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering
- Multiomic data integration
- Therapeutic target discovery and validation
- Neuroimmune mechanisms of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases
Our laboratory has established unique human datasets and multidisciplinary collaborations to investigate how distinct microglial states regulate neuronal vulnerability and identify therapeutic targets for ALS and related neurodegenerative disorders.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Designs and performs experiments.
- Maintains experimental records and documentation and analyzes the results with the Principal Investigator.
- Analyzes interpret, summarizes, and compiles data.
- Operates and maintains equipment and instruments.
- May observe MD-patient or MD-human research subject interactions as it pertains directly to research being performed.
Qualifications
Education, Experience, and Skills:
- Doctorate degree, required. A Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) in Neuroscience, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Stem Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, or a related discipline.
- A strong publication record demonstrating research productivity.
- Excellent communication and scientific writing skills.
- The ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
- Neuroimmunology experience.
- Human iPSC culture and differentiation.
- CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.
- Single-cell or spatial omics technologies.
- Molecular and cellular biology.
- Bioinformatics and computational analysis.
- Mouse models of neurological disease.
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Our compensation philosophy
We offer competitive total compensation that includes pay, benefits, and other recognition programs for our employees. The base pay range shown above takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including knowledge/skills; relevant experience and training; education/certifications/licensure; and other business and organizational factors. This base pay range does not include our comprehensive benefits package and any incentive payments that may be applicable to this role. Pay Transparency Non Discrimination Provision (PDF) (opens in new window)
Diversity and Inclusion at Cedars-Sinai
We are caretakers and innovators committed to the pursuit of equitable healthcare. But health equity is not possible without representation. Our commitment to diversity goes beyond demographics or checking boxes. Our people must reflect the diverse identities, experiences and geographies of the communities and patients we serve – because that’s what our patients, colleagues and communities deserve. Quality Care and Research—For All, By All (opens in new window).
Cedars-Sinai is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Cedars-Sinai does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of the race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics or any genetic information), marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age (40 or older), military and/or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal or state law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at Applicant_Accommodation@cshs.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
Cedars-Sinai will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
At Cedars-Sinai, we are dedicated to the safety, health and wellbeing of our patients and employees. This includes protecting our patients from communicable diseases, such as influenza (flu) and COVID-19. For this reason, we require that all new employees receive a flu vaccine based on the seasonal availability of flu vaccine (typically during September through April each year) as a condition of employment, and annually thereafter as a condition of continued employment, subject to medical exemption or religious accommodation. For the same reason, you may also be required to receive other vaccines such as COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Cedars-Sinai reserves the right to make modifications to its required list of vaccines as required by law and/or policy. Cedars-Sinai’s AA Policy Statement (PDF) (opens in new window)