Job Description

Postdoctoral Associate - Genomic Mechanisms of Metabolic Diseases

The Claussnitzer and Neal labs within the Broad Institute's Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease and Medical and Populations Genetics Program have an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral associate to join their Variant-to-Function (V2F) team. This group is dedicated to identifying genetic variants and dissecting gene regulatory networks and cellular programs controlling the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders. This individual will play an essential role in the team's efforts to advance the translation of metabolic disease genetics into an understanding of underlying molecular and cellular disease mechanisms and identification of actionable therapeutic hypotheses.

This position will be integrally connected to Claussnitzer and Neal lab projects within the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Genomic Mechanisms of Disease (NNFC) at the Broad Institute. As such, this position will provide a unique and exciting opportunity to interact with NNFC partners within the Broad and Denmark-based research communities. The NNFC is a bridgehead center and joint initiative by the Novo Nordisk Foundation in Denmark and the Broad Institute to pioneer technologies, tools, and methods to enable biomedical researchers worldwide to systematically turn genetic insights in common diseases into biological mechanisms-a key step towards developing new generations of medicines.

We are seeking a creative, proactive, resourceful, and highly-motivated individual with a background in cellular metabolism to lead research efforts aimed at understanding how genetic variants impacting gene regulatory networks and cellular programs associated with common metabolic disorders affect disease development. The successful candidate will apply a variety of cutting-edge technologies, including the latest in genome engineering, CRISPR-based screens, pooled optical screens, natural genetic variation screens, single-cell sequencing-based approaches and high-content imaging to dissect molecular mechanisms and characterize the phenotype of disease-relevant cell models (e.g., adipocytes, hepatocytes and myocytes). This position will be an integral part of a multidisciplinary team and, thus, will require close collaboration with experimental and computational scientists to achieve the main goal of determining the fundamental mechanisms by which genetic variants contribute to disease.

The Claussnitzer and Neal labs are a fun, fast-paced, impact-driven, and collaborative environment, located at the Broad Institute and the Center for Genomic Medicine and Endocrine Division at MGH, and part of the greater Boston life-science community including MIT and Harvard. The labs work very closely together and collectively drive the Type 2 Diabetes Systems Genomics Initiative at the Broad Institute. The workplace culture is diverse, dynamic, progressive, and supports a healthy work-life balance. To support this mission, we strive to support diversity, intellectual curiosity, flexibility, and integrity.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement functional genomics techniques and high throughput screening strategies to assess variant and gene effects in disease-relevant metabolic read outs and high-dimensional profiling assays

• Design, plan, and execute projects and experiments independently while working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team

• Document, compile, analyze, and interpret experimental data

• Attend and participate in lab and project meetings, including preparing reports and presenting progress toward project goals

• Train, supervise, and mentor other lab members

• Make significant contributions to scientific papers, presentations, and funding proposals

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in molecular biology, cellular biology, or related discipline

• Self-motivated and innovative leader with ability to work independently as well as part of a team in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment

• Possesses strong interpersonal skills with ability to build excellent working relationships

• Ability to multi-task and adapt in a dynamic multi-disciplinary research environment

• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, lab notebook practices, and attention to detail

• Excellent verbal and written communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills

• Experience in mammalian cell culture, cell-based assay development, cellular metabolism, and molecular biology required

• Experience with imaging-based approaches, genome editing, arrayed or pooled screening, single-cell ATAC and/or RNA-sequencing, and analysis of large datasets is preferred

• Experience working with adipocyte primary cells and cell models is beneficial

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.