Post-doctoral Position at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School

Post-doctoral Position at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School

A joint bioinformatics post-doctoral position is available in the Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory, directed by Kerry Ressler, MD, PhD and the Translational Molecular Genomics Laboratory directed by Torsten Klengel MD, PhD.

The laboratory’s mission is to identify and understand molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric diseases and develop novel preventive and therapeutic approaches. The lab focuses on stress-related disorders and collaborates with other groups on the broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders. We employ dry and wet lab genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic and proteomic approaches together with sophisticated animal models for psychiatric disorders, postmortem brain, and clinical studies (www.klengellab.com and www.resslerlab.com).

Current studies in the laboratory focus on intergenerational and early-life/adult effects of stress and trauma in non-human primates and human clinical studies. In addition, we study effects of environmental and genetic factors on coding and non-coding RNAs in rodent, non-human primate and human postmortem brain tissue, as well as in peripheral samples of large clinical cohorts. These studies employ a variety of approaches, including DNA methylation profiling (arrays, sequencing), spatial transcriptomics, RNAseq/snRNAseq, genotyping, cell culture, and protein-focused approaches in combination with behavioral and clinical assessments.

Opportunities will be available to pursue independent research and interdisciplinary collaborations across McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Depending on research focus, candidates will have access to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center (https://www.mcleanhospital.org/research/brain-bank, T. Klengel, Associate Scientific Director). This position is funded by a large collaborative research grant (1R01HD102974-01) on biological mechanisms underlying effects of maternal stress on infant development. Longitudinal RNAseq analyses in >1600 mother-infant samples are central to this project. The successful candidate will be proposed for an academic appointment as a Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Qualifications: A strong background in bioinformatic data analysis is required. Modeling expertise (e.g., machine learning), experience with advanced transcriptomics, epigenomics, and genetics is desirable. Expertise from physics, mathematics, psychology or clinical care is a plus.

To apply, send a CV, a cover letter, as well as names and email addresses of three references to Torsten Klengel (tklengel@mclean.harvard.edu) and Kerry Ressler (kressler@mclean.harvard.edu). In the cover letter, please include brief descriptions of your research experience, the types of research questions that excite you the most, any funding/fellowship opportunities you currently have or are interested in applying for, your general goals during your stay in the lab and your career goals thereafter. Review of applications will begin immediately (expected start date: Fall 2021, although an earlier start will be possible).

McLean Hospital, which is an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  As an equal opportunity employer, McLean seeks qualified candidates for all posted employment opportunities without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability or veteran status. McLean particularly welcomes applications from minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

About McLean Hospital:

Since 1811, McLean Hospital has been a world leader in scientific investigations and treatments of mental illnesses as well as in training generations of scientists and clinicians.

McLean Hospital maintains the largest program of research in neuroscience and psychiatry of any private psychiatric hospital in the United States. McLean Hospital has been ranked as America's best freestanding psychiatric hospital for 17th consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report.