Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Ziyuan Guo Regenerative neurobiology

Job description

The Guo Laboratory is seeking a highly motivated, talented, and creative Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our dynamic multi-disciplinary team. Our research sits at the cutting edge of regenerative medicine and neurobiology, utilizing state-of-the-art human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models, 3D tissue engineering, and advanced multi-omic / bioinformatics integrations to model and dissect human diseases. Our lab focuses heavily on inventing and refining Next Approach Methodologies (NAMs)—specifically, brain organoids, Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) assembloids and spinal cord/motor neuron models—to investigate the molecular and epitranscriptomic mechanisms driving neurodegenerative conditions like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), as well as neurodevelopmental consdistions including autisum and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). The Guo Lab is exceptionally well-funded through major federal agencies and foundation awards—including NINDS, NIMH, NIDA, NIA, and the NSF—and regularly publishes in high-impact journals such as Nature, Cell Stem Cell, Nature Neuroscience, Nature Communications, Science Advances, Molecular Psychiatry, Advanced Science, The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Cell Discovery, and Protein & Cell . This position offers an unparalleled opportunity to spearhead high-profile projects, leverage robust resources, and work within a deeply collaborative, state-of-the-art academic ecosystem. Key Responsibilities Advanced Cellular Engineering: Lead the directed differentiation of hiPSCs into highly enriched neural and vascular lineages (e.g., cortical neurons, motor neurons, astrocytes, microglia, brain endothelial cells, pericytes) to construct complex 3D assembloids and organ-on-a-chip platforms. Mechanistic Dissection: Deploy CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, shRNA/ASO tools, and pharmacological screens to interrogate pathological cellular axes. Multimodal Analytics: Perform and integrate high-resolution functional readouts, including whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, quantitative confocal/super-resolution microscopy, and bulk/single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Scientific Leadership: Independently manage project milestones, draft high-impact manuscripts, present findings at premier international conferences, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students within a supportive lab ecosystem. What We Offer: Fully Funded Positions: Competitive salary commensurate with experience, fully aligned with or exceeding NIH postdoctoral stipends, along with a comprehensive institutional benefits package. State-of-the-Art Facilities: Access to a brand-new, modern laboratory space equipped with dedicated stem cell suites, high-resolution imaging cores, and advanced electrophysiology rigs. Career Development: Mentorship personalized to your long-term career milestones (whether aiming for a tenure-track academic faculty position or an industry R&D leadership role), with active support for independent fellowship/grant writing (e.g., NIH K99/R00). Vibrant Culture: A welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative lab culture where scientific creativity is encouraged and work-life balance is highly respected." MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Develop the skills and knowledge (critical thinking and analysis of data, devising specific aims, long-term project planning and experimental design) to become an independent scientist Design, execute, and record laboratory experiments, and analyze data, which may affect decisions regarding future patient care. Research and improve current methods and evaluate innovative techniques. protocol and assay accuracy by conducting regular quality and reproducibility checks. Implement this knowledge in the Division/Department. Troubleshoot and correct erroneous results or problems with laboratory equipment. Discuss relevant insights about experimental results with Faculty and provide useful recommendations and analysis. Present research at laboratory meetings, journal clubs, seminars, and meetings. Develop skills to critically review and discuss data being presented. Draft, write, and edit scientific reports, papers, journal articles, abstracts, and grants. Progressively increasing responsibilities with mentorship of research staff and fiscal administration Maintain currency in field through continuing education, literature, and seminars. Be an active participant in the process through intellectual discussions with PI and other faculty, trainees and research staff. Solicit feedback on career trajectory from PI, mentoring committee and others who can provide coaching and insight. Attend required Cincinnati Children’s training sessions and ensure regulatory compliance with all institutional (i.e. Infection Control, ORCRA and others as applicable) policies and procedures Perform other duties as assigned. Required: Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. in Neurobiology, Stem Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field. Demonstrated track record of scientific productivity, evidenced by first- or senior-author publications in reputable, peer-reviewed journals. Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a collaborative mindset and an eagerness to work at the intersection of wet-lab biology and advanced computational data sciences.\ Preferred: Strong technical background in mammalian cell culture (experience with hiPSC/hESC maintenance and directed differentiation is highly preferred, but not required for candidates with exceptional molecular biology or electrophysiology expertise). Hands-on experience with 3D organoid, assembloid, or microfluidic/organ-on-a-chip modeling. Experience with whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. Familiarity with computational biology pipelines (e.g., handling transcriptomic or scRNA-seq datasets using R or Python). Primary Location Location S Schedule Full time Shift Day (United States of America) Department DB - Guo Employee Status Regular FTE 1 Weekly Hours 40 About Us At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s. Cincinnati Children's is: Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10 best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers (2025) , America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025) One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune Consistently certified as great place to work A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) We Embrace Innovation—Together. We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us. Comprehensive job description provided upon request. Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability