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A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Spatial Biodynamics Lab (spatialbiodynamics.org) led by Dr. Changyang Linghu at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, is looking for a Research Lab Specialist Associate to join an exciting journey to unravel the principles of how cellular activities drive fundamental brain functions, such as computation, learning, and memory, via the development and application of novel technologies to read out and control cellular activities in the living brain. The Spatial Biodynamics Lab is at the intersection of the Medical School, Michigan Neuroscience Institute, Biosciences Initiative, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan and provides a unique and world's top interdisciplinary research and training environment. The Specialist Associate will be primarily appointed in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology in the Medical School, which is one of the world's most distinguished and largest biomedical research institutions and health systems and offers excellent professional development programs for career development.

The successful applicant will develop and/or apply groundbreaking technologies to observe and decode cellular activities in the living brain. The successful applicant will also work in a multidisciplinary and collaborative setting with scientists and engineers at the University of Michigan.

***For this specific position, prior experience in mouse in vivo experiments is preferred.

PI bio: Dr. Changyang Linghu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan Medical School and faculty member of the Michigan Neuroscience Institute, Single Cell Spatial Analysis Program in the Biosciences Initiative, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology working with Dr. Ed Boyden. His recent works are published in Cell, Nature Biotechnology, Neuron, and Nature Communications. He is the recipient of Glenn and AFAR Junior Faculty Grant (2024), Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Collaborative Pairs Pilot Project Award (2024), Whitehall Foundation Three-Year Research Grant (2024), GenScript Life Science Research Grant (2024), Bioengineering in Brain Cancer Challenge Seed Fund Award from UMich (2024), Spatial Analytics of Cancer Challenge Seed Fund Award from UMich (2023), Biological Sciences Scholar (BSSP) from UMich (2022), MIT Spot Award (for community service) (2022), MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35 (TR35) China (2021), Bioengineering Rising Star Speaker from Princeton University (2021), J. Douglas Tan Postdoctoral Fellow (2020), McGovern Graduate Fellow (2018), and MIT Presidential Fellow (supported by Irwin Mark Jacobs and Joan Klein Jacobs) (2013).

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems.  In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day 2:1 Match on retirement savingsResponsibilities*

The successful applicant should have a strong interest in neuroscience and/or neurotechnology. Project(s) and research questions will be tailored depending on the candidate expertise and interests. Experimental responsibilities include in vivo experiments on mice, such as AAV (adeno-associated virus) injections, brain tissue histology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence imaging. Non-experimental responsibilities include analyzing and interpreting results and scientific writing for publications and grants. The detailed responsibilities are listed below:

Has an active role in the design, execution and outcome assessment of a research project. Coordinates the collection and analysis of data and then conducts experimental tests and procedures. Development of computational methods and models for analyzing experimental data quantitatively. Perform statistical tests on the results.Develops, designs and conducts complex mouse in vivo experiments in line with a research plan and reviews and discusses results periodically with the PI and other lab members. Provide input into the future development of procedures and research designs.Responsible for implementing components of research design analysis. Responsible for developing components of the data analysis system (computer models, instrumentation, statistical models) for data analysis. Evaluate results and recommend improvements in research design and modeling.Provides technical assistance in operation, calibration, and optimization of instrumentation and other research equipment. Takes responsibility for ensuring equipment is operating according to specifications. Functions as a technical advisor on components of the research, working in a higher level of autonomy.Perform literature searches relevant to the research. Responsible for writing certain components of progress in reports, manuscripts for publication, and grant applications. May co-author publications and may present results in formal meetings or conferences.Conducts or participates in lab meetings and subgroup meetings related to the progress of the project(s). Serves as a consultant to PI and lab members.Functional and administrative supervision may be exercised over lab assistants, graduate students, and other assigned research and support personnel. Plans and coordinates work of lab assistants, graduate students, entry level research staff, and other support personnel.Trains users in equipment operation and laboratory techniques. Explains and demonstrates technology and equipment capabilities, operations limitations and outcomes. Responsible for writing research support proposals. May act as a liaison for collaborators within and outside of U-M to communicate collaboration plans and update research progress, acquiring and sharing data and/or reagents.Can make some independent decisions that impact research operations with minimal supervision.Required Qualifications*Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, or related science field is required. A Master's degree is preferred. 1-3 years related experience is required.Experience in mouse intracranial injection of AAV (adeno-associated virus) or other substances/reagents is required.Desired Qualifications*Experience in any area of neuroscience research using live mice, including but limited to mouse brain survival surgery, mouse behavior experiments, and/or mouse brain histology, is preferred.Experience in fluorescence microscopy is preferred.Background Screening

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.