Postdoctoral Associate

Summary

The Zhao Lab at Baylor College of Medicine investigates the molecular, cellular, and neurocircuit mechanisms of interoception. We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate with expertise in bioinformatics, computational biology, or computational neuroscience to lead projects integrating single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics, and functional imaging data (e.g., calcium imaging). The ideal candidate will have strong quantitative skills, a track record of innovative analysis, and a passion for bridging computational and systems neuroscience.

Job Duties

Develops and applies computational pipelines for multi-omics (scRNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics) and multimodal datasets (e.g., transcriptomics + imaging).

Implements machine learning/AI approaches to analyze high-dimensional neural data (e.g., calcium imaging, volumetric imaging).

Adapts or creates custom tools (Python/R/MATLAB) for data integration and visualization.

Manages large-scale datasets using cloud computing (AWS, Google Cloud) and high-performance clusters.

Optimizes workflows for reproducibility and scalability.

Works closely with experimentalists to design studies, interpret results, and guide hypothesis-driven research.

Mentors graduate students and contribute to grant writing/publications.

Minimum Qualifications

MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.

No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.

Strong publication record demonstrating quantitative analysis of biological data.

Proficiency in R, Python, and/or MATLAB (e.g., scRNA-seq tools like Seurat, Scanpy).

Experience with neuroscience datasets (e.g., transcriptomics, imaging, electrophysiology).

Knowledge of machine learning, statistical modeling, or AI applications in biology.

Familiarity with cloud computing (AWS/GCP) and high-performance clusters.

Prior work with interoception, neurodevelopment, or neural circuits is a plus.

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.