Position Summary

The Research Associate (post-doc) will join a research lab focused on understanding the role of the tau protein in neurodegeneration and developing novel therapeutics for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. The applicant will help carry out and develop research projects to understand the mechanisms involved in the development and progression of these diseases as well as develop novel gene therapies using a variety of techniques and model systems. The position will involve work with rodent models, cell culturing, and in vitro experimental techniques. The experimental duties may include rodent handling and husbandry, harvesting and culturing primary neurons, gene therapy approaches, Western blotting, DNA cloning, culturing of cell lines, fresh and fixed tissue processing, immunostaining, and other biochemical and molecular techniques. The applicant will take a leading role in collecting and analyzing data as well as writing manuscripts publication. This is an opportunity to grow and develop important skills necessary for career progression. The position is in the laboratory of Dr. Nicholas Kanaan in the highly collaborative and innovative Department of Translational Neuroscience, located at the MSU Grand Rapids Research Center, 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, or related fields

Minimum Requirements

The applicant should have a doctoral degree (or equivalent) in a scientific field, preferably molecular biology, neuroscience, or a related field with multiple years of experience in a research laboratory. Applicants should have experience performing basic research techniques in the specific or related field as well as a fundamental understanding of molecular and cellular biology as well as neuroscience. The candidate should be detail oriented and self-motivated with the ability to independently carry out research and must interact, communicate, and work well with others. The applicant must have a demonstrated record of publishing high quality research and have experience with statistical analysis of data.

Desired Qualifications

Experience/training in neuroscience and/or neurodegenerative disease research, gene therapy approaches, or intracellular signaling pathways are strongly desired. Applicants with experience in one or more of the following techniques will be preferred: 

1. Rodent (mice and/or rats) handling experience. This includes animal husbandry (colony maintenance and genotyping), carrying out and analyzing behavioral experiments, intracerebral surgery/delivery, AAV use, necropsy and post-mortem tissue processing
2. Advanced microscopy including confocal, brightfield/fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy
3. Advanced gene and protein analysis (e.g. SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, ELISA, MSD, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ddPCR/qRT-PCR
4. Statistical analysis of data

Required Application Materials

CV or resume, cover letter highlighting past accomplishments and future career goals, contact information for 3 or more references

Review of Applications Begins On

11/04/2025

Summary of Health Risks

Work with animals or unfixed animal tissue

Website

http://translationalscience.msu.edu/

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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