The Ishihara Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh (Department of Computational and Systems Biology) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate position. The successful candidate will contribute to a collaborative project with the Brent Laboratory (Department of Neurology) focused on developing innovative high-throughput platforms to study electrophysiological dysfunction in ALS. ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disease affecting 30,000 Americans, for which no cure exists. Our labs are developing a high-throughput functional imaging platform to profile motor neuron dysfunction across multiple ALS genetic backgrounds using iPSC-derived human motor neurons. The postdoc will work at the intersection of quantitative imaging, computational analysis, and stem cell-based disease modeling, with the goal of identifying genotype-specific patterns of neuronal dysfunction and evaluating therapeutic strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Culture and differentiate iPSC lines into motor neurons

• Perform high-throughput functional imaging to record spontaneous neuronal activity

• Develop and apply computational pipelines for electrophysiological profiling at scale

• Assess neuronal viability and morphology in parallel with functional recordings

• Contribute to manuscript preparation, presentations, and grant reporting

• Report to Dr. Ishihara and Dr. Brent and work together with members of the respective labs

Qualifications

Required:

• PhD in neuroscience, cell biology, bioengineering, computational biology, or a related field

• Hands-on experience with fluorescence microscopy

• Strong written and oral communication skills

Preferred:

• Experience with iPSC culture and/or neuronal differentiation

• Familiarity with calcium imaging or electrophysiology (patch-clamp or MEA)

• Proficiency in image analysis or scientific programming (Python, MATLAB, or similar)

• Interest in or experience with ALS or other neurodegenerative diseases

n/a

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.