Research Associate Position in Stem Cell Biology and Neuroscience

Overview

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• A cover letter describing your research interests and career goals
• A current curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three references

Preferred Qualifications

We seek highly motivated candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Molecular biology and genome engineering, including CRISPR /Cas9–mediated gene editing
• Electrophysiology, including patch-clamp recordings in brain slices or cultured cells
• Bioinformatic and computational analyses, such as single-cell transcriptomic data analysis

About the Role

The Jiang Laboratory in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience at Rutgers University–New Brunswick investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying human brain development and neurological disease, with a particular emphasis on the roles of glial cells, especially human microglia, in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

Using human pluripotent stem cell–based platforms, our research employs innovative in vitro brain organoid systems and in vivo chimeric mouse brain models to elucidate disease mechanisms and to develop novel glia-based therapeutic strategies. We use a wide range of multidisciplinary approaches, including human pluripotent stem cell reprogramming and differentiation, CRISPR /Cas9–mediated genome editing, electrophysiology and patch-clamp recordings, advanced imaging techniques, molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing and data analysis, transgenic and surgically induced animal models, as well as behavioral analyses.

Recent publications from the laboratory include:

• Jin, Ma, Zhang, et al., Cell Reports (2026)
• Jin et al., Nature Neuroscience (2026)
• Papetti, Jin, et al., Neuron (2025)
• Qiao & Jiang, Cell Stem Cell (2025)
• Jin et al., Cell Stem Cell (2022)
• Xu et al., Nature Communications (2020)
• Xu et al., Stem Cell Reports (2020)
• Kim et al., Stem Cell Reports (2019)
• Xu et al., Cell Stem Cell (2019)

Additional information about the laboratory can be found at: https://cbn.rutgers.edu/peng-jiang-lab/