Job Description

Position Details

Title Postdoctoral - Neurological Surgery (Naikui Liu Lab) Specific Title Appointment Type Postdoctoral Fellow Department IUSM - Neurological Surgery Campus IU School of Medicine Indianapolis Position Summary

A full-time postdoctoral fellow position is available to conduct research focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury and the development of therapeutic strategies to promote neurological recovery.

The successful candidate will use a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches, including animal models, molecular and cellular techniques, histological analyses, and behavioral assessments, to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury and to develop potential therapeutic strategies to promote neurological recovery.

IUSM is committed to being a welcoming campus community and we seek candidates whose research, teaching, and community engagement efforts contribute to robust learning and working environments for all students, staff, and faculty. We invite individuals who will join us in our mission to improve health equity and well-being for all throughout the state of Indiana.

Indianapolis is the capital and most populous city in the State of Indiana. It is growing economically thanks to a strong corporate base anchored by the life sciences. Indiana is home to one of the largest concentrations of health sciences companies in the nation. Indianapolis has a sophisticated blend of charm and culture with a wonderful balance of business and leisure. The growing residential base is supported by rich amenities and quality of life – the city possesses a variety of professional sports, arts venues, and outdoor recreation areas. Residents of this dynamic city, and surrounding suburbs, enjoy leading educational systems and top-ranked universities, paired with a diverse population. Indianapolis International Airport is a top-ranked international airport, being named “Best Airport in North America” by Airports Council International for many years. For additional information on life in Indy: https://faculty.medicine.iu.edu/relocation/.

Job Summary

Research Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and analyze experiments related to spinal cord injury and neurological recovery. • Perform in vivo spinal cord injury animal models and conduct relevant behavioral assessments to evaluate injury and functional outcomes.
• Perform molecular, cellular, and histological studies, which may include cell culture, tissue sectioning, immunohistochemical staining, microscopy, and related techniques.
• Collect, organize, analyze, interpret, and document research data using rigorous and reproducible research practices.
• Contribute to the development and evaluation of potential therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury.
• Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication and present research findings at scientific meetings.
• Participate in laboratory meetings, collaborative research activities, and discussions related to ongoing projects.
• Assist with the development of new research directions and, as appropriate, contribute to grant-related scientific activities.
• Work collaboratively with the principal investigator, research staff, trainees, and collaborators while maintaining compliance with institutional research and laboratory requirements.

Teaching and Service

The primary responsibility of this position is research. Formal teaching and clinical service responsibilities are not anticipated. The postdoctoral fellow may participate in mentoring or training students and junior laboratory personnel as appropriate to the research program.

Supervision and Professional Development

The postdoctoral fellow will work under the supervision of the principal investigator and will receive mentoring in experimental design, data analysis, scientific writing, presentation of research findings, manuscript preparation, and career development.

Basic Qualifications

EDUCATION

Required

• PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in neuroscience, neurobiology, biomedical sciences, or a closely related field.

SKILLS

Required

• Experience with behavioral assessments, molecular/cellular biology techniques, Western blotting and related biochemical techniques, tissue sectioning, histology, immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence, microscopy, and quantitative image analysis.
• Strong communication, organizational, and scientific writing skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and scientific writing skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong interest in spinal cord injury, neural repair, neuroinflammation, or related areas of neuroscience

Preferred

• Experience with animal models and/or cell culture.
• Experience with spinal cord injury (SCI) surgery in animal models.

Department Contact for Questions

nscchr@iu.edu

Additional Qualifications Special Instructions Priority Application Review Deadline Expected Start Date Posting Number IUSM-02510-2026