Open Postdoctoral position, faculty mentor Li Wang

We are an interdisciplinary research team that integrates single-cell and spatial genomics, lineage tracing, synaptic proteomics, functional perturbation screening, and machine learning to investigate how the human brain generates diverse cell types and assembles complex neural circuits. We are particularly interested in how these developmental programs are disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders and brain tumors. Grounded in human biology and evolution, our work seeks to uncover the molecular logic underlying human-specific neuronal differentiation and synaptic connectivity and to translate these insights into mechanistic understanding and future therapeutic strategies.

Our current research focuses on how neural progenitors generate diverse cell types during human brain development and how these developmental programs can be aberrantly reactivated in brain tumors. Ongoing projects include developing novel single-cell genomic methods for lineage tracing of human neural progenitors, performing cross-species comparisons to identify human-specific features of brain development, and mapping tumor clonal evolution to uncover stem-like states that drive malignancy.

We are seeking creative and highly motivated individuals to join us in these efforts. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in experimental genomics, including bulk and/or single-cell approaches, with experience in tissue processing, nuclei isolation, library preparation, and analysis and interpretation of genomic data. A deep understanding of bulk and single-cell sequencing assays is highly desirable. Familiarity with brain development, brain cancer, and neural stem cell biology is a strong plus, but not required.