Position Summary

The Cruchaga Lab at WashU Medicine is recruiting multiple Postdoctoral Research Associates. The NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center generates and analyzes Whole-Genome Sequencing data and high-throughput, multi-dimensional -omic data to study neurodegeneration and diseases of the central nervous system, with an emphasis on Alzheimer disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other dementias. The ultimate goal of the NGI is to understand the biology of these diseases, to define novel biomarkers, and to identify novel therapeutic targets. WashU Medicine is renowned for its research cohorts of neurodegenerative disorders, which include clinical, neuroimaging, and fluid biomarker phenotypes.

Characterization of the genetic topography of Alzheimer's disease (AD) provides a unique opportunity to understand the disease. We are looking for investigators with expertise in Whole Genome and Exome data, colocalization, Mendelian Randomization, and TWAS/Fusion approaches to lead our effort to identify new genes involved in AD etiology.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Information on being a postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/.

Recent publications on the subject:

• Fernandez et al., “Genetic and multi-omic resources for Alzheimer disease and related dementia from the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center”, Sci Data. 2024 PMID: 38997326
• Cruchaga et al., “Novel early-onset Alzheimer-associated genes influence risk through dysregulation of glutamate, immune activation, and intracell signaling pathways”, Res Sq, 2024. PMID: 38883718
• Wang et al., “Proteo-genomics of soluble TREM2 in cerebrospinal fluid provides novel insights and identifies novel modulators for Alzheimer's disease”, Mol Neurodegenr. 2024. PMID: 38172904
• Ray et al. “The Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Whole-Genome Sequencing Project: Study design and methodology”, Alzheimers Dement. 2023, PMID: 37390458
• Ali et al., “Large multi-ethnic genetic analyses of amyloid imaging identify new genes for Alzheimer disease”, Acta Neuropathol Commun, 2023 PMID: 37101235

Working Conditions:

This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Salary Range:

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

Diversity is a core value at Washington University School of Medicine and in the Department of Psychiatry. We are committed to building and sustaining inclusive and equitable working and learning environments for all students, staff, trainees, and faculty. We believe that building a diverse team enriches us individually and as a department by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions. In order to achieve these objectives, candidates are expected to align with the school's mission of promoting inclusive excellence. They should be prepared to further this objective within Washington University and collaborate with diverse communities of students, faculty, staff, trainees, and patients. Visit our Websites to learn more about DEI initiatives in the Department of Psychiatry (https://psychiatry.wustl.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion-2/) and at WUSM (https://diversity.med.wustl.edu/).    

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They