Research Associate

About the Role

Dr. Longwei Liu’s laboratory at the University of Southern California (USC) is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar – Research Associate. The laboratory bridges engineering and medicine to develop innovative therapeutic and diagnostic technologies. In this NIH-supported position, the scholar will develop programmable biological systems to investigate cellular signaling and advance therapies for degenerative diseases and cancer. The position offers opportunities to lead an independent project, collaborate across engineering and medicine, mentor trainees, and develop manuscripts and fellowship applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret mechanistic and translational studies; establish experimental priorities and troubleshoot independently.
• Develop and characterize molecular constructs, engineered cells, biosensors, or therapeutic proteins using appropriate techniques.
• Evaluate candidate systems in relevant cell-based assays and, where applicable, preclinical animal models.
• Analyze and document results, maintain accurate research records, and apply appropriate controls and reproducible workflows.
• Prepare manuscripts, present findings at laboratory meetings and scientific conferences, and contribute to grant and fellowship applications.
• Mentor students and research staff, collaborate with colleagues, and help maintain an organized and productive laboratory environment.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• A Ph.D. degree in bioengineering, molecular or cell biology, immunology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or a closely related field by the start date.
• At least one first-author publication demonstrating expertise relevant to one or more of the research areas.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following areas: synthetic biology; genetic engineering; ocular biology or vision science; or cellular and molecular engineering.

Qualifications

• Ability to design controlled experiments, critically analyze data, troubleshoot research problems, and work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational skills, and a commitment to research integrity.
• Experience in one or more of the following: synthetic biology, genetic circuit design, genome editing, protein engineering, or cell and gene therapy.
• Proficiency in molecular cloning, mammalian cell culture, viral gene delivery, flow cytometry, or fluorescence imaging.
• Experience with retinal biology, ocular disease models, immune-cell engineering, or preclinical evaluation of therapeutic technologies.
• Strong quantitative skills in biological data analysis, image analysis, or computational modeling.
• Demonstrated ability to lead research projects, collaborate across disciplines, and mentor junior researchers.

This position is on-site at the USC Health Science Campus in Los Angeles, CA.