Research Assistant - Circuit- Model Systems of Anhedonia

Research Assistant - Circuit-Based Model Systems of Anhedonia

We are establishing a new fully funded research group at Bio Med X Institute in New Haven, Connecticut, focused on Circuit-Based Model Systems of Anhedonia. We seek a Research Assistant with a PhD or master’s degree (or equivalent) and a strong track record or keen interest in the neurobiology of reward circuitry.

If you hold a PhD or master’s degree with an outstanding track record or strong interest in this field, we invite you to apply with a project proposal for a position in our new research group (1 group leader, 2 postdoctoral researchers, 2 research assistants). Each project team is sponsored by an industry partner; the sponsor of this call for application is Abb Vie
.

• Identify and validate pathophysiological changes relevant to anhedonia.
• Develop models with high construct validity.
• Identify new targets to treat anhedonia.

• Identification and functional validation of specific microcircuit(s) or neurotransmitter imbalance(s) critical to anhedonia, resulting in the development of human and/or animal in vitro or ex vivo models to support therapeutic advancement.
• Integration of patient‑derived data or real‑world data (human genomics) to support mechanistic findings.
• Identification of surrogate markers or biomarkers for anhedonia and/or treatment response.
• Discovery of potential therapeutic targets to treat anhedonia.

• PhD (or equivalent) in neuroscience, neurobiology, or related field.
• Completed within the last three years and a certain degree of specialization in one or more relevant cutting‑edge technologies.
• Strong research portfolio with evidence of scientific creativity and project proposal experience.

• A fully funded research group with an annual budget of 1.1 million USD covering salaries, materials, services, travel, overhead, and access to core facilities at Yale University.
• A project term of 3‑5 years
  .
• Participation in a multidisciplinary, international research community with flexible working environment.
• Continuous coaching by key opinion leaders from top academic institutions and pharma industry.
• Participation in the Bio Med X boot camp: learn to build a compelling pitch presentation in five days.

Flexibility over starting dates; successful applicants may take up position in New Haven starting July 1, 2026
.

• Apply online at .
• Submit a competitive project proposal (3‑5 pages) and curriculum vitae including publication record.
• 
  .
• First selection round invites candidates to a five‑day innovation boot camp (March 9‑13, 2026) in New Haven, culminating in a presentation to a distinguished jury. Successful candidates will be offered a position.
• Additional information session on December 17 at 8:15 PM CET via Zoom.

Bio Med X is an independent research institute with sites in Heidelberg, Germany, New Haven, Connecticut, Ridgefield, Connecticut, and a worldwide partner network. We operate at the interface between academia and industry, performing biomedical research and drug discovery in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, women’s health, cardiometabolic diseases, platform technologies, and AI. All projects are supported by leading pharmaceutical companies and conducted by early‑career scientists recruited worldwide.

We champion free, creative, curiosity‑driven research with robust validation, timelines, and deliverables, advancing translational biomedicine through cross‑disciplinary synergy.

• Associate

• Full‑time

• Research and Science
• Biotechnology Research, Higher Education, and Research Services