Postdoctoral Research Associate Position

Position Overview

Postdoctoral Research Associate Position
Department of Otolaryngology
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis

We’re seeking a postdoctoral research associate to join the Sheets Laboratory to investigate excitotoxic injury and recovery in sensory nerves using the zebrafish model. This project will examine how sensory hair cell synapses repair following excitotoxic damage and explore how innervating neurons recover from excitotoxic injury. The research will also investigate the role of the innate immune system in these injury and recovery processes.

The Sheets Lab investigates how traumatic injury affects sensory hair cells and innervating nerves, with a focus on identifying the cellular mechanisms that drive repair following damage. Our research integrates multiple experimental approaches—including transcriptomics, histology, genome editing, functional calcium imaging, optogenetics, and behavioral analysis—to address fundamental questions in auditory neuroscience. Experience in molecular biology, functional imaging, and/or behavior studies is strongly preferred.

Learn more about our research at

Our lab is part of the Fay & Carl Simons Center for the Biology of Hearing and Deafness, a collaborative research community at Washington University in St. Louis. WashU offers a vibrant and well-supported research environment with excellent opportunities for professional development and interdisciplinary collaboration. For more information contact Lavinia Sheets, Ph.D.(sheetsl)

Interested applicants should include a CV, a brief description of your research interests and experience, and contact information for three references: