Postdoctoral fellows— Parkinson’s disease, dopamine neuron vulnerability

Postdoctoral fellows— Parkinson’s disease, dopamine neuron vulnerability

The Parisiadou Lab at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine is seeking highly motivated postdoctoral fellows to join our newly funded Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) / Michael J. Fox Foundation team focused on PD.

Our lab studies a fundamental question in PD: why are certain dopamine neurons especially vulnerable to neurodegeneration, while others remain resilient? We use disease-relevant mouse models and cell-type-specific approaches to connect molecular changes with synaptic dysfunction, dopamine signaling, and behavior.

This position is part of a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary team within the ASAP/MJFF Collaborative Research Network (CRN). The fellow will have the opportunity to work closely with scientists across different areas of expertise, including PD biology, RNA biology, aging, genetics, molecular profiling, in vivo neuroscience, and therapeutic development. The CRN provides a unique team-science environment with access to shared expertise, open-science resources, collaborative working groups, and a broad international PD research community. The fellow will have the opportunity to:

Perform disease-relevant in vivo studies using genetic mouse models. Connect molecular mechanisms with dopamine neuron function and behavior. Test therapeutic strategies aimed at reversing early disease-related changes. Work as part of a multidisciplinary ASAP/MJFF CRN team. Participate in collaborative meetings, shared projects, open-science activities, and cross-institutional interactions.

Applicants should have a PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent degree in neuroscience, neurobiology, pharmacology, genetics, biochemistry, or a related field.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with mouse work and in vivo neuroscience approaches. Experience with one or more of the following is strongly preferred: mouse handling, stereotaxic surgery, viral injections, behavioral assays, imaging, neurochemical measurements, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, or work with genetic mouse models.

Experience in PD, dopamine neuron biology, neurodegeneration, or aging research would be an additional advantage but is not required.

We are looking for curious, rigorous, organized, and collaborative scientists who are excited to work as part of a global multidisciplinary initiative focused on understanding and treating PD.

Interested applicants should send a CV, a brief statement of research interests and career goals, and the names of three references to:

Loukia Parisiadou, PhD
[email protected]