Research Assistant NEUROLOGY knh

Job Summary

The Research Assistant I will be positioned within the Khurana Laboratory in the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and will physically work within the BWH iPSC Neuro Hub (one floor above the Khurana lab). This role is designed to support Khurana Lab-driven research projects from a human cell-modeling perspective, with a particular focus on induced pluripotent stem cell-derived models of neurodegenerative disease.

The RA will serve as a key operational and technical liaison between Khurana Lab scientists and the BWH iPSC Neuro Hub, helping coordinate the generation, maintenance, tracking, and distribution of human iPSC lines and differentiated neural cell types needed for ongoing research programs.

The Khurana Lab studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, with a strong emphasis on patient-derived models, human iPSC-based systems, neuronal and glial differentiation, synuclein biology, neurotoxicity, and translational disease modeling. In close collaboration with the BWH iPSC Neuro Hub, under the directorship and mentorship of Dr. Christina Muratore, the RA will contribute to the generation and maintenance of high-quality human iPSC-derived cell models and support the use of these models across Khurana Lab projects.

The BWH iPSC Neuro Hub provides a centralized resource for the BWH neuroscience research community by acquiring, generating, maintaining, characterizing, and distributing human iPSC lines; developing novel differentiation methods and techniques; and educating researchers through seminars, consults, and hands‑on support.

• Maintain, passage, catalogue, and culture human iPSC lines used by the Khurana Lab and associated collaborative projects.
• Physically work within the BWH iPSC Neuro Hub while serving as a dedicated Khurana Lab research assistant supporting Khurana Lab‑driven cell model needs.
• Coordinate closely between Khurana Lab scientists and the Neuro Hub for the generation, differentiation, characterization, and delivery of iPSC‑derived cell models.
• Support the differentiation of iPSCs into neurons, glia, and other relevant human neural cell types, including aging and maintenance of differentiated cultures as required by specific projects.
• Assist with the development, optimization, and execution of cell‑based assays relevant to neurodegenerative disease research, including viability, toxicity, phenotypic, imaging‑based, and molecular assays.
• Maintain a master inventory of all available Khurana Lab cell lines, including iPSC lines, differentiated derivatives, engineered lines, and relevant metadata.
• Track cell line provenance, passage number, differentiation status, storage location, quality control information, experimental use, and availability for future experiments.
• Serve as the point person for internal Khurana Lab cell requests and assist with external cell‑related requests, in coordination with the PI, senior scientists, lab leadership, and Neuro Hub policies.
• Help establish and maintain clear systems for requesting, approving, logging, transferring, and documenting cell line use within the Khurana Lab and with external collaborators.
• Coordinate cell banking, thawing, expansion, freezing, and distribution workflows in collaboration with Neuro Hub staff and Khurana Lab scientists.
• Assist with quality control practices for iPSC and differentiated cell cultures, including monitoring morphology, growth, contamination, differentiation efficiency, and other relevant parameters.
• Maintain excellent sterile technique and follow best practices for human cell culture, iPSC maintenance, and shared tissue culture space use.
• Schedule, execute, and monitor longitudinal imaging experiments using platforms such as Incucyte and Nikon Biostation microscopy systems.
• Support flow cytometry‑based assays, including coordination of Attune flow cytometry use, maintenance, and ordering of related reagents as needed.
• Analyze data from microscopy, longitudinal imaging, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and other cell‑based assays.
• Maintain detailed and accurate digital lab notebooks,…