Postdoctoral Scientist - Touil Lab - Department of Neurology

Job Description

Cedars‑Sinai offers scientists unparalleled access to ground‑breaking technologies, facilities, and resources for conducting research related to an impressive range of diseases and disorders, from cancer, cardiology, and digestive diseases, to genetics, genomics, neurosciences, and women's health.

Dr. Hanane Touil invites you to consider this Postdoctoral Scientist opportunity to join her dynamic team!

The laboratory of Dr. Touil is part of the Department of Neurology and Biomedical Sciences at Cedars‑Sinai in Los Angeles. Dr. Touil leads a translational neuro‑immunology research program that integrates rigorous functional neuro‑immune assays with ground‑breaking computational approaches to investigate disease mechanisms underlying neuro‑immunological disorders.

Her research focuses on Multiple Sclerosis (MS), compartmentalized inflammation within the central nervous system, and the molecular and cellular signatures of immunosenescence in both healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease. Using deeply characterized human bio‑specimens and advanced analytical methodologies, the laboratory seeks to identify biomarkers associated with prognosis, treatment response, and disease progression in order to advance early diagnosis and precision medicine strategies aimed at halting disease progression.

Working independently but in close collaboration and in consultation with Dr. Touil and other Research Scientist in the team, the Postdoctoral Scientist will perform routine and sophisticated laboratory procedures throughout this training period. The candidate will lead a neuro‑immunology based project conducting immunologic, transcriptomics and computational based analyses. This role consists in investigating the impact of existing disease modifying therapies on peripheral blood and central nervous based immune signatures during disease progression combining innovative technologies including sc‑RNA‑seq, CITE‑Seq with proteomics and spectral flow cytometry combined with advanced clinical outcomes.

The incumbent may develop, adapt, and implement new research techniques and protocols. This position is not responsible for generating grant funds.

• Designs and performs experiments.
• Maintains experimental records and documentation and analyzes the results with the Principal Investigator.
• Analyzes interpret, summarizes, and compiles data.
• Operates and maintains equipment and instruments.
• May observe MD‑patient or MD‑human research subject interactions as it pertains directly to research being performed.

• May collaborate with a multidisciplinary research team, including neurologists, computational biologists, bioengineers, neuroscientists and neuroimaging scientists.
• Process and manage human bio‑specimens (Blood, Serum, Plasma, CSF cells and fluid).
• Performs multi‑omics (sc‑RNA‑Seq, Spectral Flow Cytometry and proteomics).
• Implement innovative technologies to validate multi‑omic findings.
• Performs functional assays including antigen‑presentation, phagocytosis, cytotoxicity and cell proliferation.
• Will screen eligible patients with Multiple Sclerosis, dementia and Alzheimer's disease ensuring compliance with inclusion and exclusion criteria.
• Follows SOPs and safety laboratory standards.
• Support general laboratory and departmental research activities.
• Assist with junior staff supervision as needed.

• Doctorate (MD, PhD, VMD, or DDS) in area directly related to field of research specialization.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team - and should have excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Acquires technical and theoretical knowledge of research project and…