Post-doc at Mount Sinai (New York)

About the Seaver Autism Center
The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment is a fully integrated translational
research center dedicated to discovering the biological causes of autism spectrum disorder
(ASD) and developing breakthrough treatments. Our mission is to bridge the gap between new
discoveries at the basic science level and clinical care by developing new and improved
approaches to autism diagnosis and treatment. Our multisciplinary team of experts uses
genetics, molecular biology, model systems, neuroimaging, and experimental therapeutics to
treat each patient. We also provide opportunities to participate in an integrated series of
research studies aimed at understanding the causes of autism spectrum conditions and
developing treatments. We actively collaborate with members of the research community at
Mount Sinai, as well as with various institutions and consortia throughout the U.S. and the
world.
We are looking for an ambitious, creative and motivated postdoctoral fellow with expertise in
cellular neuroscience, pluripotent stem cells and electrophysiology to study the neurobiological
mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorder using those iPSC models.

About the Job
Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of ASD and lack of a proper human cellular model,
animal models, either naturalistic, environmental, pharmacological or genetic, have traditionally
been the preferred choice for investigating mechanisms underlying ASD. However, these
models have several conceptual and practical limitations for studying human
neurodevelopment. The recent advent of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
has allowed researchers to circumvent these obstacles and efficiently complement animal
models by establishing human iPSC lines, which capture both the primary genetic lesion and
the genetic background of patients and are therefore particularly useful for disorders with
complex etiology, where genetic causes are usually multiple and complex. In vitro induction of
iPSCs derived from patients into various neuronal and glial cell types, in monolayer cultures or
in organoids, provides a powerful new tool to study the cellular and molecular causes of human
disorders and test therapeutic strategies in the cell types most affected in these diseases. The
Seaver Center has several ongoing programs aiming to model different complex neurogenetic
disorders associated with ASD including Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, FOXP1 Syndrome and
ADNP Syndrome, using iPSCs.

Specific responsibilities include:
• Performing and supervising iPSC reprogramming
• Creating genetically modified lines
• Differentiating iPSC in different types of neuronal cells
• Neuron phenotyping
• RNA sequencing experiments
• Collecting, analyzing, and reviewing experimental data for publication and presentation
• Leading new experiments and techniques when needed
• Supervising students and technicians in the lab.
• Perform other duties as required.
About You
We are looking for an ambitious, creative and motivated individual to join the Seaver Autism
Center in this role. Specific qualifications include:
• Ph.D. or equivalent in Neuroscience, Neurobiology or a related discipline
• Experience in cellular neuroscience, cell culture, iPSC reprogramming and
differentiation, cell transfection.
• Experience in gene expression manipulation including cell transfection, utilization of
viruses, shRNAs, CRISP-Cas9 gene editing.
• Preferred applicants will have additional experience in single cell and multi-electrode
array electrophysiology.
• Knowledge in R or other languages for statistical computing or graphics is a plus.
• Highly motivated.
• Strong communication and writing skills.
• Ability to work both independently and in a multidisciplinary team-oriented environment.
• Strong organizational skills and analytic ability.

How to Apply
Applicants should apply via the Mount Sinai Careers website (requisition number: 2180588).
Questions about the position can be directed to:
Lynn Hendrickson, MBA
Administrative Director, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment
lynn.hendrickson@mssm.edu

About Mount Sinai Health System
Internationally regarded for its dedication to medical science, Mount Sinai is home to an array of
leading research institutes, centers, and laboratories, all of which work toward rapidly translating
advances in basic science into innovative patient care. With a history rich in clinical milestones
and an unequaled passion for patient-focused research, Mount Sinai has pioneered
breakthroughs benefiting untold numbers of lives. The Mount Sinai Health System is also
committed to providing compassionate patient care by recruiting the most skilled professionals
for our patients. Join us if you share our vision of collaborative problem solving and help to shape the future of research and health care. In addition to taking the best care of our patients,
we offer our employees a highly competitive compensation and benefits package, including
medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, a 403(b) retirement plan, and much more.
Formed in September 2013, Mount Sinai Health System combines the excellence of the Icahn
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai with seven premier hospital campuses, including Mount Sinai
Beth Israel, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Brooklyn, The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Queens,
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai West, and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s.
The Mount Sinai Health System is committed to the tenets of diversity and workforce that are
strengthened by the inclusion of and respect for our differences. We offer our employees a
highly competitive compensation and benefits package, a 403(b) retirement plan, and much
more.
The Mount Sinai Health System is an equal opportunity employer. We promote recognition and
respect for individual and cultural differences, and we work to make our employees feel valued
and appreciated, whatever their race, gender, background, or sexual orientation.

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