A position is open for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the research laboratory of Dr. Annie Hiniker at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hiniker is the Norman and Mary Pattiz Foundation Endowed Associate Professor in Neuropathology and Director of the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Neuropathology Core.

This NIH-funded research project is a close collaboration with Dr. Allison Kraus’s laboratory at Case Western Reserve University and will study when and where tau seeding emerges in the normal human brain and how tau seeds are modified by age, co-pathologies, inflammatory responses, and regional molecular changes. The project will combine detailed human neuropathology with RT-QuIC seeding assays (performed at the Kraus lab), biochemical characterization, transcriptomic analysis, and multiomic approaches. Applicants should hold, or soon receive, a Ph.D. in neuroscience, molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology, or a related discipline.

Research Description

The Hiniker lab uses human neuropathology, cell and molecular biology, and molecular profiling to identify mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease. Broadly, the lab focuses on protein aggregation and degradation in neurodegenerative diseases (please see our lab website). A major focus of this project is to define the distribution, biochemical features, and cellular correlates of tau seeds across aging and disease states, and to define the features of pathogenic tau seeds that drive neurodegenerative disease.

Research Activity

• Studies using well-characterized human brain tissue from neurodegenerative disease and control cohorts
• Neuropathologic analysis via immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence of tau, a-synuclein, TDP-43, Ab, and related changes
• Integration of neuropathology with tau RT-QuIC and related seed amplification assays
• Biochemistry and molecular biology of human brain tissue
• Generatio and analysis of multiomic (transcriptomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, and related molecular) datasets
• Preparation of manuscripts, figures, abstracts, and presentations

Salary Range:

The annual base salary range for this position is $$70,304- $80,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.“

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

• Notice of Non-discrimination
• Employment Equity
• Read USC’s Clery Act Annual Security Report
• USC is a smoke-free environment
• Digital Accessibility

If you are a current USC employee, please apply to this  USC job posting in Workday by copying and pasting this link into your browser: