POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR

The University of Iowa Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologyand the Iowa Neuroscience Institute is seeking a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratory of Serena Banu Gumusoglu, Ph.D., M.Sc.

The MINDFOL Laboratory investigates placenta-brain mechanisms in pregnancy. Ongoing work addresses the developmental origins of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric risk following adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. The lab uses complementary mouse and human translational approaches.

We are seeking a highly motivated scientist with a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in neuroscience, pharmacology/pharmacy, physiology, or a related field. Applicants should have strengths in a subset of the core research areas relevant to the position, with additional training provided as needed.

The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative and interactive research team spanning obstetrics, neuroscience, and psychiatry, and will have the opportunity to contribute to high-impact projects. The position includes structured mentorship in manuscript preparation, career development, and preparation for the academic job market.

The postdoc will also be expected to present research at national and international scientific meetings and mentor junior trainees in the laboratory.

In addition, the candidate will participate in the training environment of the Iowa Neuroscience Institute and the University of Iowa's research community, which offer seminars, journal clubs, works-in-progress meetings, and grant-writing support.

Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in neuroscience, pharmacology/pharmacy, or a related field.

Experience with extracellular vesicle biology, including isolation and characterization.

Strong hands-on experience with surgical approaches in mice, including survival surgery and other precision procedures.

Experience with molecular biology techniques, including Western blotting, PCR, immunohistochemistry, and/or immunofluorescence and microscopy

Demonstrated data analysis skills, including quantitative image analysis and statistical analyses of complex datasets

Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative research team, including clear scientific communication and shared responsibility for colony, tissue, and data management

Experience with microsurgical techniques in mice, including neonatal or embryonic procedures

Experience with timed pregnancies, embryonic dissection, or placental tissue handling

Experience with statistical analysis software such as R, Python, or GraphPad Prism

Experience with transcriptomic analysis, including bulk or single-cell RNA-seq

Experience with flow cytometry, nanoparticle tracking analysis, or imaging flow cytometry

Experience with rodent behavioral phenotyping

To start the Online Application process for this position, click the "Apply for This Position" button located below the Contact Information.