Noyes Lab Post Doctoral Associate at University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Noyes Lab Post Doctoral Associate
Med-Computational and Systems Biology - Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh - (26001644)

We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative Postdoctoral Fellow to lead core research efforts in a transformative project focused on engineering cell fate using synthetic transcription factors. This position is part of the development of the ZEN-Fate (Zinc finger Evolved Networks for cell Fate determination) platform, an approach designed to enable precise and generalizable control of gene expression and cellular identity through programmable zinc finger-based transcriptional regulators. The successful Candidate will play a central role in building and applying a large-scale synthetic transcription factor library to discover regulatory programs that drive cell differentiation and function.

The postdoctoral fellow will be responsible for designing and constructing large libraries of zinc finger-based synthetic transcription factors and implementing high-throughput cloning strategies to enable pooled screening approaches. The position will involve engineering inducible expression systems in pluripotent stem cells (mESCs), including the development and use of targeted genomic integration systems to support controlled expression of synthetic regulators. The Candidate will lead pooled functional screening experiments to identify transcription factor combinations that induce differentiation into multiple cell types, and will optimize screening conditions across diverse cellular contexts.

A major component of the role will include the application of genomic and single-cell readouts to evaluate screening outcomes. The fellow will design and execute experiments using RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, and RNA FISH-based phenotypic assays to identify and characterize successful differentiation programs. The position also involves integrating experimental results with computational analyses to identify regulatory hotspots and refine synthetic transcription factor combinations into minimal, efficient programs capable of directing cell fate. These efforts will contribute to both fundamental insights into gene regulatory networks and the development of clinically relevant cell engineering strategies.

The ideal Candidate will have a PhD in synthetic biology, molecular biology, bioengineering, or a related field, with demonstrated expertise in genetic engineering and synthetic biology approaches. Strong experience with molecular cloning techniques, including Golden Gate or Gibson assembly, is required, along with familiarity with high-throughput screening or selection-based experimental systems. Experience with next-generation sequencing approaches such as RNA-seq or ChIP-seq, as well as work in eukaryotic model systems, is essential. Additional experience in engineering synthetic gene circuits, designing and screening large genetic libraries, and applying single-cell or spatial gene expression assays is highly desirable.

This position is particularly well suited for candidates with a strong background in building and optimizing synthetic regulatory systems, performing functional screening of engineered populations, and studying gene expression and regulatory networks in developmental or cellular systems. The successful Candidate will be expected to work independently while contributing to a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment at the interface of synthetic biology, genomics, and stem cell engineering.

This role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a high-impact, high-risk research program aimed at developing fundamentally new approaches to controlling cell fate. The work has broad implications for understanding gene regulation, advancing cell-based models of disease, and enabling future therapeutic applications through precise cellular engineering.

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.

Assignment Category: Full-time regular
Campus: Pittsburgh
Child Protection Clearances: Not Applicable
Required Attachments: Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae

Assignment Category Full-time regular