Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate

A position is open for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the research laboratory of Dr. Annie Hiniker at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hiniker is the Norman and Mary Pattiz Foundation Endowed Associate Professor in Neuropathology and Director of the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Neuropathology Core.

This NIH-funded research project is a close collaboration with Dr. Allison Kraus’s laboratory at Case Western Reserve University and will study when and where tau seeding emerges in the normal human brain and how tau seeds are modified by age, co-pathologies, inflammatory responses, and regional molecular changes. The project will combine detailed human neuropathology with RT-QuIC seeding assays (performed at the Kraus lab), biochemical characterization, transcriptomic analysis, and multiomic approaches. Applicants should hold, or soon receive, a Ph.D. in neuroscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology, or a related discipline.

Research Description

The Hiniker lab uses human neuropathology, cell and molecular biology, and molecular profiling to identify mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease. Broadly, the lab focuses on protein aggregation and degradation in neurodegenerative diseases (please see our lab website). A major focus of this project is to define the distribution, biochemical features, and cellular correlates of tau seeds across aging and disease states, and to define the features of pathogenic tau seeds that drive neurodegenerative disease.

Research Activity

• Studies using well-characterized human brain tissue from neurodegenerative disease and control cohorts

• Neuropathologic analysis via immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence of tau, a-synuclein, TDP-43, Ab, and related changes

• Integration of neuropathology with tau RT-QuIC and related seed amplification assays

• Biochemistry and molecular biology of human brain tissue

• Generatio and analysis of multiomic (transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, and related molecular) datasets

• Preparation of manuscripts, figures, abstracts, and presentations

Salary Range:

The annual base salary range for this position is $$70,304- $80,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.“

Minimum Education: PhD or equivalent doctorate acquired within the previous 4 years. Preferred Qualifications: PhD or equivalent doctorate in neuroscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology, or related areas: • Strong publication record • Experience with neurodegenerative disease research • Experience with transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, or related molecular datasets