POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE

School of Medicine:

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation’s top medical schools. Ranked tenth among its peers, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where traditional barriers are low, interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced, and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve humanhealth locally and around the globe.

Comprised of 2,400 faculty physicians and researchers, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing and Duke University Health System create Duke Health. Duke Health is a world-class health care network. Founded in 1998 to provide efficient, responsive care, the health system offers a full network of health services and encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Private Diagnostic Clinic, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

The postdoctoral fellow position will require the applicant to drive the parallel progress and development of two neurogenomic projects in autism and multiple sclerosis. The autism project involves the continuation of an NIH funded project that aims to understand the molecular basis of sociability in an animal model of social discordance prior to intervention with oxytocin to promote prosocial behavior. The second project is part of a newly funded grant that is assessing the impact of an endogenous molecule on remyelination in the context of a demyelinating animal model of multiple sclerosis.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Evaluating and applying computational tools and resources to analyze complex, high-dimensional datasets including RNA-seq, and single cell RNA and ATAC-Seq data as well as a nascent spatial expression platform. 
• Collaborate closely with experimental scientists from various disciplines and backgrounds to develop a strong understanding of the neurodegenerative and behavioral-science principles underlying the phenotypes being studied in the lab. 
• Generate high-quality biological samples from isolated neuronal tissue. These include DNA and RNA extractions as well as downstream applications including QC/quantification, mRNA expression profiling, library preparation, and RNAscope validation. Previous animal husbandry experience is expected.
• Experience using extant pipelines to bulk RNA-Seq is preferable, training will be provided for single cell and spatial expression and ATAC-Seq analysis among other approaches.
• Effectively communicate scientific proposals and results to the rest of the interdisciplinary team during weekly lab meetings and meetings with collaborating scientists. 

Minimum Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in biology, genetics, computational biology, or a related scientific field. Regardless of the background, demonstratable evidence of experience in the previously described responsibilities is required. 
• Practical skills in programming and scripting, preferably in R. Experience working on shared Linux environment and/or cluster is advantageous.
• Self-motivated, inquisitive, and creative with strong communication skills. 
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a broader team or collaboration.

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