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General information

Location
Cambridge, MA
Ref #
43150
Job Family
Research
Date published
15-Oct-2025
Time Type
Full time

Description & Requirements

The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard is seeking outstanding postdoctoral scholars to join a research group led by Zohreh Farsi, PhD, and Morgan Sheng, MD, PhD, Co-Director of the Stanley Center and Head of Therapeutics.
Candidates will have the opportunity to be co-mentored by Dr. Sheng. The Stanley Center’s mission is to improve the lives of individuals affected by serious mental illness by leveraging genetic insights to drive groundbreaking basic and translational research. In line with this mission, the Farsi/Sheng research group investigates the neurobiological mechanisms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder using mouse models with strong human-genetic validity. This research program also provides an exciting opportunity to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders, bridging fundamental mechanisms and translational applications.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary team working on cutting-edge fundamental and translational research investigating the cellular and circuit-level mechanisms of psychiatric disorders, particularly in relation to risk genes for schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.

The research will focus on fundamental scientific questions, with the successful candidate expected to formulate hypotheses, design and execute experiments, interpret data, and write and publish original papers, often in partnership with Stanley Center scientists in the Sheng lab, other Stanley Center members and external collaborators. In particular, the successful candidate will be expected to collaborate with systems neuroscientists conducing imaging, electrophysiology and behavioral studies. Interest and/or fluency in these topics is a plus. The dynamic and collaborative environment of the Stanley Center also creates opportunities to work closely with other Therapeutics groups at the Stanley Center, allowing the successful candidate to gain valuable expertise into drug discovery and development. This postdoctoral position offers an exceptional training environment that will prepare the candidate for a successful career in academia or industry.
 
REQUIREMENTS
  • Ph.D. in neuroscience or related field.
  • 0-1+ years of post graduate experience.
  • Completion of at least one research project as evidenced by one or more first author research articles published or accepted in a well-recognized, peer-reviewed journal.
  • Experience with bulk and single-nucleus RNA-seq analysis, brain dissection, cDNA library preparation, transcriptomics data analysis is strongly preferred.
  • Additional experience with optical imaging (fiber photometry, miniscope), electrophysiology, circuit perturbation techniques (optogenetics and chemogenetics) is plus
  • Experience working with rodent models, particularly involving injections, behavioral assays, surgeries and brain histology.
  • Expertise with basic laboratory methods of molecular cell biology and imaging.
  • Strong initiative to drive one’s own experimental research
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and to interact with others