Postdoctoral Research Associate - Developmental Neurobiology

A postdoctoral research associate position is available with Dr. Xinwei Cao.

Project Description:

This project investigates how transcriptional regulatory networks establish and maintain neural identity during brain development by activating appropriate neural gene programs while repressing alternative lineage programs. The work will combine mouse genetic models with genome-wide profiling and mechanistic assays to define how key transcriptional regulators engage cofactors and select cis-regulatory elements to control gene expression in neural progenitors.

Findings are expected to reveal fundamental principles of cell fate specification and shed light on lineage infidelity during diseases such as cancer.

Position Responsibilities:

• Perform and troubleshoot genomics assays (e.g., bulk RNA-seq, CUT&RUN, ATAC-seq, and single-cell RNA-seq), and integrate datasets to identify regulatory mechanisms and key targets.
• Conduct in vivo and ex vivo functional studies, including in vivo perturbation experiments (viral delivery and electroporation) and quantitative histological and molecular phenotyping.
• Develop and apply in vitro mechanistic assays to study transcription factor (TF) interactions and TF–DNA interactions.
• Maintain rigorous documentation and reproducible analysis workflows.
• Contribute to manuscripts, presentations, and grant-related writing.
• Participate in team science within the lab and with collaborators (e.g., computational biology/bioinformatics and gene regulation expertise).

Minimum Education and/or Training:

PhD in biology or related fields

Special Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

Required

• Hands-on experience with standard molecular biology techniques (e.g., molecular cloning).
• Ability to perform experiments consistently and rigorously.
• Ability to design experiments rationally and analyze data critically.
• Clear scientific communication (writing, figure preparation, and presentations) and strong collaboration skills.

Preferred

• Strong background in developmental neurobiology and/or gene regulation.
• Experience in biochemistry and molecular biology skills (protein–protein and protein–DNA interactions).
• Computational analysis of sequencing data (R/Python or established pipelines).
• Strong publication record.

About the lab and St. Jude:

Our lab conducts rigorous, mechanism-driven fundamental research and provides personalized mentoring that supports research excellence and long-term career development. The postdoctoral fellow will be encouraged to take intellectual ownership of a defined project with regular guidance, constructive feedback, and training in experimental, analytical, and scientific communication skills.

Trainees will have opportunities to present their work internally and externally and participate in grant writing and career development activities aligned with their goals.

The lab is embedded in strong collaborative networks in developmental neurobiology, genomics, imaging, and computational biology, with access to outstanding institutional core resources.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a world-class research institution dedicated to pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases of childhood. The first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children.

Our 300 faculty work across the spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, and population science in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment that includes a Nobel laureate and members of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Medicine. St.

Jude is ranked on Fortune Magazine’s “Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma” and Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work,” and is located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant and friendly city at the historic American crossroads of music, trade, food and culture.

We are in pursuit of the brightest minds in biomedical sciences, individuals poised to contribute to our research progress. Other than access to top-quality scientists and mentors, as a postdoctoral trainee at St. Jude, you will have:

• A Blend of Academic Freedom and Industrial Efficiency: Access to shared resources and facilities led by expert scientists, coupled with cutting-edge technology, accelerates research productivity.
• Customized Professional and Career Growth: Experience specifically designed programs to enhance professional growth and career readiness empowering postdocs for success beyond their training. This includes access to grant writing workshops, individual development plans, teaching and mentoring opportunities, non-research career advancement programs, professional development allowance, and so much more.
• Competitive Compensation: Embark on your journey with a competitive salary starting at $72,500 a year, comprehensive benefits and generous relocation assistance, reflecting our commitment to recognize and invest in talent.
• A Sense of Community: St. Jude fosters a vibrant postdoc community that supports a well-balanced life. A dynamic environment promotes connections and camaraderie among postdocs from all backgrounds.

We are committed to a human-centered hiring experience. Technology may support portions of our process, but recruiting decisions involve human review and engagement. Learn more about our approach to AI .

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