Post Doctoral Associate

The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health is one of the nation’s leading schools of public health, ranking third among schools of public health in terms of NIH funding with contributions that have influenced public health practice and medical care across the world. Central to its mission is to foster a multidisciplinary research approach to understand and solve health problems.

A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Nicholas Fitz in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA. The successful candidates will become part of a large, multidisciplinary neuroscience and environmental health community, and will have ample opportunities for collaborations. The lab utilizes transgenic animals for modeling of Alzheimer’s disease so the applicant should have knowledge of the use of animals as a model system. The postdoctoral positions in the lab are supported by NIH grants with the goals of understanding the role of exposome as a risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and the impact these exposures have on different neural cellular populations. These projects require the integration of multiple techniques for in vitro assays, rodent behavioral analysis, brain surgery, and histological, molecular, and genetic analysis of pathological markers.

The candidate should have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics, or related fields, with a track record of productivity during their graduate studies.

The candidate should have experience using transgenic mouse models, preferably with behavioral testing, and histological analysis using a confocal microscope. Furthermore, experience in molecular biology and biochemistry is a requirement. The application of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) including, cell sorting and single-cell transcriptomes, is a substantial part of the work relevant to all projects. The position requires basic knowledge of statistics with R and Python, and experience with bioinformatics tools and software packages necessary to analyze sequencing data.

The candidates should have creative thinking, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively. Applications should include curriculum vitae and names/contact information of three professional references.

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.