Post-Doctoral Fellow - Neuroscience and Anatomy

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Unit: School Of Medicine

Department: Neuroscience & Anatomy

Department Summary: In the Department of Neuroscience & Anatomy, research is one of our core tenets. With traditions anchored in the anatomical disciplines, our identity has evolved to reside in modern neuroscience, where our dedicated faculty and students engage in state-of-the-art research and scholarly activity with clinical translation potential in conditions ranging from anxiety to epilepsy to Alzheimer’s.

With labs and grant-funded projects led by our full-time department faculty and affiliate faculty in other academic units across VCU, we’re proud to contribute to the field by conducting innovative research the following focus areas: Central Nervous System Circuit Function, Central Nervous System Injury and Repair, Educational scholarship and Practice, Glial Cell Biology, and Molecular Mechanisms of Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

Position Summary: 

One Postdoc position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Wenhui Hu, in the Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy at VCU School of Medicine. This Postdoc position will explore the translational application of improved CRISPR/Cas genome editors and develop innovative target cell-specific gene delivery in vivo, focusing on T cells and microglia/macrophages. The research projects are NIH funded to examine the efficacy of target cell-specific AAV, nanoparticle or lentivirus-like particle delivery of CRISPR/Cas genome editors and chimeric antigen-receptor (CAR) to combat infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS (NeuroHIV), cancer, autoimmunity and organ fibrosis. We have established advantageous novel animal models, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived microglia-containing cerebral organoids and CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene/cell therapy platform. Dr. Hu’s lab is also exploring the role of novel protein NIBP/TRAPPC9 as a host restriction factor to fight virus infection.

The major lab techniques involve molecular cloning, RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas genome editing, viral and non-viral gene delivery, library screening, neural stem cell culture, ES/iPSC and organoid culture, conditional transgenic or knockout mouse technologies, stereostatic microinjection, cell-based functional assays, in vitro transcription, mRNA stability, protein engineering, protein arrays, co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot, RT-PCR, HCR-fish, multi-labeled immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging analysis, Flowcytometry and cell sorting, whole genome sequencing, bulk and single cell RNA sequencing, and bioinformatics.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Molecular cloning, gene editing and targeted gene delivery
• Cell/organoid culture and cell-based functional assays
• Viral vector packaging, purification and testing
• Immunohistochemistry and confocal image analysis
• Animal handling and neurobehavioral test
• The writing of manuscripts and grants as well as the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate in PI’s lab

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in neuroscience, molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, virology, cell biology, biomedical sciences, or a closely related field by the start date
• Strong training in molecular and cellular biology techniques, including molecular cloning, gene expression analysis, cell culture, and cell-based functional assays
• Demonstrated experience conducting independent biomedical research, including experimental design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of results, and troubleshooting
• Ability to work with animal models and/or human or mouse cell culture systems relevant to infectious disease, neuroinflammation, gene therapy, or related biomedical research
• Ability to maintain accurate laboratory records, follow institutional biosafety and animal research compliance requirements, and complete required university and federal research training
• Evidence of scholarly productivity, such as peer-reviewed publications, manuscripts in preparation or revision, abstracts, or scientific presentations
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior research experience in host–pathogen interactions, immunology, neuroinflammation, gene therapy, RNA biology, organoid models, or related biomedical research areas
• Experience with molecular cloning, CRISPR/Cas genome editing, RNA interference, viral or non-viral gene delivery, or other genetic manipulation approaches
• Experience with cell culture, organoid culture, animal models, tissue processing, immunostaining, microscopy, flow cytometry, or related functional assays
• Experience with transcriptomic, sequencing, imaging, flow cytometry, or other biological data analysis; familiarity with R or bioinformatics is desirable
• Evidence of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications, manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, or contributions to grant preparation
• Strong motivation to contribute to NIH-funded translational projects involving targeted delivery, genome editing, infectious disease, NeuroHIV, cancer, autoimmunity, fibrosis, or related fields

Salary Range: Commensurate starting at $63,480

Benefits: All VCU employee types are eligible for a wide array of benefits to support you during your employment at VCU. Consult the benefits website for information on benefits eligibility according to employee type.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: Post-Doctoral Fellow

Contact Information:

Contact Email: SOMHR@vcuhealth.org