Job Description

About the Wyss:
The mission of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University is to transform human healthcare and the environment by emulating the way nature builds. Developed as an alliance between Harvard and other premier academic and clinical partner institutions, Institute faculty and staff collaborate in high-risk, fundamental research and science-driven technology development. A major focus of the Institute is to translate the technologies developed by its faculty and staff into commercial products and therapies through collaborations with clinical investigators and establishment of corporate alliances. For more information, discover our technologies, catch up on our recent news, or watch our latest videos.

Role Description:
The laboratory of Dr. George Church at the Wyss Institute at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA is looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join our rapidly growing team, interested in developing therapies for age reversal of human hematopoietic stem cells. We have developed a pipeline leveraging AI-driven aging clocks and next-generation-sequencing to perform in vitro screens for the discovery of age reversal perturbations in human cells.

We are looking for a passionate, impact-motivated scientist and problem solver who enjoys participating in fast-paced, dynamic research. Candidates should be focused on delivering impact through translational science, enjoy working with diverse groups of people, and leverage their expertise to discover new biology.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will have the opportunity to lead projects within the Wyss Institute’s Ichor team focused on age reversal. Research will be performed in an interdisciplinary manner within the Wyss Institute and with collaborators in the Harvard Medical School community. We are particularly interested in scientists with strong wet lab experience in hematopoietic stem cell engineering and scRNA-Seq. Working alongside the project leads, you will assist in key research studies involving in vitro functional genomics of hematopoietic stem cells for applications in aging and oncology. Additionally, you will be closely involved in the continued development of our age reversal screening platform and related technologies.

The postdoctoral fellow will also have opportunities relating to early-stage innovation and commercialization, for which the Church lab has a history of success in effectively translating novel technology concepts into new biotech startups focused on addressing unmet needs for patients living with debilitating diseases. In addition to professional development opportunities within the lab and exposure to a breadth of scientific disciplines, the Postdoctoral Fellow will be able to take advantage of the scientific communities within Harvard, the Wyss Institute, and the greater Boston area.

What You’ll Need:
Ph.D. or equivalent
Specific degree areas include but are not limited to hematopoietic stem cell biology, immunology, functional genomics, synthetic biology, and molecular biology.
Preferred:
Preferably, applicants should be able to:

Independently plan, design, and execute on in vitro experiments relating to our screening platform in human hematopoietic stem cells
Design, clone, confirm and implement new libraries, strategies for library generation, and assist in the continued development of our screening platform
Help manage and mentor our team of graduate students, research assistants, and undergraduate researchers
Initiate, maintain, and execute on both industry and academic collaborations relating to the application of our platform across diverse cell types and disease spaces
Accurately and thoroughly document experimental observations and protocols and help maintain a high level of organizational efficiency within the lab
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness in the workplace through actions & communications with others
Prior experience with primary human cell isolation, culture, and modification is advantageous, but not required
Prior experience with scRNA-seq is desired
Familiarity with python, R or similar programming language is advantageous, but not required
Highly effective organizational and communication skills are essential
Benefits and Perks:
Medical/Dental/Vision: We offer a variety of excellent medical, dental, & vision plans. All coverage begins as of your start date.
Time Off: 20 days of vacation per year
Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive tuition assistance program, classes at the Harvard Extension School and discounted options through participating Harvard grad schools.
Transportation: Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as additional options to assist employees in their daily commute.
Wellness Options: Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, nutrition, meditation, and complimentary health services.
Where You Can Apply:
Applications, assembled as single PDF files, should contain a complete resume, cover letter describing research interests and goals, full list of publications, copies of up to three relevant scientific papers, as well as the names and contact information of three references (expected to provide letters of recommendation). Applications should be sent to [email protected] using the subject line “HSC Age Reversal.”

Working Conditions
Harvard requires COVID vaccination for all Harvard community members. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage: http://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-information/.

Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law. Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.