Associate Investigator - Brain Disease Proteomics and Connectomics

About the role

The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large‑scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Its multi‑disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how the brain, cells, and immune system work, sharing results openly so others can build on them, move faster, and ask bigger questions. The Institute has launched a new moonshot initiative on human brain health and disease called the Brain Health accelerator. This initiative aims to dramatically accelerate understanding of human brain structure and function, identify the molecular, cellular, and circuit basis of disease progression, and pioneer new therapeutic strategies targeting vulnerable and affected cell types. The mission focuses on a human‑centric approach to understanding and treating disease, combining large‑scale open‑science discovery across multiple diseases, AI‑based disease modeling, and translational programs in specific diseases to move from discovery to clinical application. The major focus will be on neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy Body Dementia, Huntington’s, and ALS. The Institute seeks an outstanding individual to lead a program in proteomic and connectomic analysis of human brain tissues in health and disease, including the study of cell‑type selective changes in synaptic connectivity associated with neurodegenerative disease. This will involve technological development such as optimization of methods for human tissue preparation for cleared and/or expanded tissues and light sheet microscopy, and biological studies of disease phenotypes. The role will work closely with teams working on proteomic analysis of human and mouse tissues, single‑cell and spatial genomics profiling, data analysis and modeling, and cell‑ and circuit‑targeted therapeutic development. The successful candidate will be an established, recognized researcher in cellular and circuit biology with a strong track record of research and publication. Part of this research will focus on Alzheimer’s disease as part of the Seattle Alzheimer's Disease Brain Cell Atlas (SEA‑AD) consortium. The ideal candidate is a self‑motivated team player willing to push the boundaries of human neuroscience and disease research through scientific leadership, individual and team contributions, and continuing scholarship on the ever‑changing landscape. The successful candidate will also have excellent communication skills that can represent the Institute’s efforts to stakeholders internally and in external forums. The Allen Institute offers exceptional working conditions and nurtures team science in an intellectually rich and stimulating setting, providing a highly collaborative research environment offering the opportunity to interface closely with molecular and cell biologists, bioinformaticians, and partner institutions. This is an Associate Investigator position comparable to an Associate Professor in a university/medical school setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead breakthrough research and deployment of state‑of‑the‑art methods in cellular and circuit neuroscience
• Contribute to forming and participating in a larger discovery science effort to understand the cellular, molecular, and circuit basis of neurodegenerative diseases
• Advise and mentor a group of scientists and technicians performing proteomic and connectomic studies in human brain tissues
• Contribute to Alzheimer’s research as part of the Seattle Alzheimer’s Disease Brain Cell Atlas (SEA‑AD)
• Work collaboratively across teams working in related technological or disease‑centric areas
• Develop and establish scalable methods for cleared and/or expanded techniques in human tissues
• Develop high‑affinity reagents for specific labeling of relevant targets
• Seek and evaluate new cutting‑edge techniques in related areas
• Work synergistically with bioinformaticians and data scientists
• Publish and present findings in peer‑reviewed journals and scientific meetings
• Present a periodic summary of progress to the research community, Institute executive leadership, and external advisors
• Pursue external funding through grant writing and submission to federal and private foundation funding agencies

Requirements

• Ph.D. and/or M.D./Ph.D. in experimental neuroscience or biology, physics, engineering, or related academic or biomedical discipline
• Minimum 7 years relevant experience in experimental and/or computational neuroscience, with supporting publication record
• Domain knowledge of systems, cellular and/or molecular neuroscience, with emphasis on studies of synaptic connectivity
• Experience working independently as well as in a collaborative high‑paced environment
• Experience working with outside collaborators to achieve defined objectives
• All employees who work with live animals must complete an Occupational Health medical history form and/or consultation with an Occupational Health Provider and receive clearance to work with animals; depending on health history and job responsibilities, an annual respiratory health screening and clearance to use a respirator may also be required

Qualifications

• 10 or more years of post‑PhD working experience
• 10 or more years of experience teaching scientific courses or workshops in formal settings
• Proven track record in procuring funding in the form of grants, awards, and/or contracts
• Proven track record of success publishing in high impact journals
• Excellent management skills and ability to work in a group and interact closely with scientific and technological collaborators
• Proven strong written and verbal communication skills

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance
• Eligibility to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan
• Paid time off as outlined in the Benefits Guide

Details: Allen Institute Benefits Guide

Pay

Annualized Salary Range: $185,800 –