Research Post Doctoral Fellow - Qian Lab

Research Postdoctoral Fellow - Qian Lab

The Qian Lab, located in the BRIDGE Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, is dedicated to understanding how the human cerebral cortex develops, and how this process can go awry in neurodevelopmental disorders. Our research aims to decode the cellular, molecular, and functional logic of cortical development, with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic entry points for conditions such as congenital brain malformations, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorder.

The lab is led by Dr. Xuyu Qian, a tenure-track Assistant Professor whose work integrates human brain organoids, spatial transcriptomics, and human genetics to investigate features of human brain development that are often inaccessible through traditional model systems. Dr. Qian pioneered the development and application of brain organoid models to investigate human neurological diseases in patient-derived and genetically engineered systems. In parallel, he has analyzed developing human brain tissues using single-cell spatial omics, generating an extensive atlas that revealed how distinct cortical layers and areas emerge during development.

Future projects in the lab will build on established human cortical organoid, spatial omics, imaging, and disease-modeling platforms to investigate how human cortical cells acquire molecular identity, organize into functional circuits, and respond to genetic or environmental perturbations. A growing area of interest is the integration of cortical organoids with functional readouts, including multielectrode-array-based recording and stimulation, to study activity-dependent maturation, network dynamics, and adaptive plasticity in human neural systems.

Candidates with interests in stem cell models, developmental neuroscience, electrophysiology, neural activity analysis, spatial transcriptomics, imaging, or computational biology are encouraged to apply.

The Qian Lab is seeking a highly motivated and creative Postdoctoral Fellow to lead and contribute to cutting-edge research projects focused on human brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders. Under the guidance of Dr. Xuyu Qian, fellows will drive hypothesis-driven research that builds upon established pipelines, while also having the opportunity to innovate and explore new directions.

The specific project will be shaped by the candidate's expertise, interests, and training goals. Opportunities may span human cortical organoid models, neurodevelopmental disease mechanisms, spatial and single-cell omics, imaging-based assays, and functional studies of organoid network activity. Experience with organoid models, electrophysiology, MEA or high-density MEA platforms, calcium imaging, closed-loop stimulation, neural time-series analysis, or related approaches would be valuable, but candidates are not expected to have all of these skills.

Projects are supported by Dr. Qian's start-up funding from CHOP as well as active NIH and foundation grants. The postdoc will work independently on at least one core project while contributing to the broader mission of the lab. In addition to advancing their own research, fellows will have the opportunity to mentor junior lab members, contribute to collaborative initiatives, and help shape the scientific environment of a growing research group.

The position offers robust professional development, including training in advanced experimental and computational techniques, scientific writing, and grant preparation. Fellows will be encouraged to present their work at national and international conferences and will have access to the rich training environment offered by CHOP and Penn, including specialized workshops, seminars, and career development resources.

This position is ideal for candidates seeking to deepen their expertise in developmental neuroscience, human genetics, stem cell biology, single-cell and spatial omics, and functional analysis of human neural systems, while preparing for independent research careers in academia or industry.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will take an…