Postdoctoral Fellow – Retinal Biology, Usher Syndrome, and Translational Genomics

Job Summary

Will conduct independent and collaborative research, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the development of innovative solutions. The fellow will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and collaborate with a team of researchers.

Essential Functions

• Design, plan, and execute research experiments or projects in alignment with departmental goals.
• Gather, analyze, and interpret data using appropriate statistical methods and tools.
• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews to inform research direction and methodologies.
• Prepare and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences and seminars.
• Work collaboratively with faculty, students, and other researchers, contributing to a positive research environment.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students, providing guidance on research methodologies and techniques.
• Assist in the preparation of grant proposals and funding applications to support ongoing research.
• Prepare periodic reports and documents summarizing research progress and outcomes.

Additional Job Details

The Indzhykulian Laboratory at Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to lead and coordinate a collaborative research program investigating the retinal biology of Usher syndrome and advancing the development of therapeutic approaches for inherited sensory disorders. The project brings together investigators with expertise and existing datasets spanning human retina, human retinal organoids, and multiple animal models. The initial goal is to define the therapeutically relevant expression and isoform usage of Usher syndrome genes in the human retina, place these findings in comparative animal context, and establish experimentally supported priorities for retinal cell targeting and therapeutic development. A major component of the project will involve integrating published and unpublished data generated by multiple collaborating laboratories, identifying areas of agreement and discrepancy across datasets and experimental models, and designing targeted experiments to resolve the most important remaining questions. The work is intended to provide a biological foundation for the development and evaluation of gene-replacement, genome-editing, and other therapeutic strategies for Usher syndrome.

Responsibilities

• Integrating and critically evaluating retinal gene-expression and transcript/isoform data from multiple laboratories and experimental systems.
• Working with computational collaborators to analyze single-cell, bulk, and long-read transcriptomic datasets, with particular attention to cell-type-specific expression and isoform usage of genes associated with Usher syndrome.
• Comparing findings across human retina, retinal organoids, and relevant animal models to determine which systems best reproduce therapeutically important aspects of human retinal biology.
• Designing and performing targeted validation experiments in collaboration with participating laboratories, potentially including RNAscope/in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, quantitative imaging, and studies in human retinal tissue and retinal organoids.
• Evaluating the specificity and suitability of antibodies and other reagents for protein-localization studies.
• Coordinating data exchange and experimental activities among participating laboratories and maintaining an integrated record of results across the collaboration.
• Presenting findings to collaborators, helping establish project milestones and priorities, and following up on discrepancies or unresolved questions.
• Taking a leading role in preparation of collaborative manuscripts integrating existing and newly generated data.
• Contributing to the development of subsequent studies of Usher syndrome retinal biology and therapeutic approaches.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a PhD, MD/PhD, MD with substantial research training, or equivalent doctoral degree in neuroscience, vision science, molecular/cellular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, or a related discipline. Experience in one or more of the following areas is particularly desirable: Retinal biology or retinal disease; Human retinal tissue or iPSC-derived retinal organoids; Single-cell or bulk transcriptomic analysis; Transcript/isoform analysis, including long-read sequencing; RNAscope or other RNA-localization approaches; Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy; Quantitative image analysis; Molecular genetics or inherited retinal disease; R, Python, or related computational/data-analysis approaches. The candidate is not expected to have expertise in all of these areas. Of particular importance are scientific curiosity, critical thinking, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to work effectively across multiple laboratories and disciplines.