Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Ian Guldner

The Guldner Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies is seeking a highly motivated and creative Postdoctoral Fellow to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate brain aging, neurodegeneration, and intercellular communication.

The Guldner Lab seeks to understand how cells communicate through the exchange of proteins and how these communication networks change with age and disease. The laboratory combines cell-specific proteome tagging, advanced cell isolation approaches, in vivo models, proteomics, and genetic and pharmacologic perturbations to identify proteins transferred between cell types and determine how these interactions influence tissue function, aging, and disease. A major focus of the laboratory is understanding communication between brain cells and how age-related changes in proteostasis contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop and lead a research project at the intersection of aging biology, neuroscience, proteostasis, neuroimmunology, and neurodegeneration. Projects will address how proteostasis and cellular communication change with aging and/or disease and the implications of these changes on brain health on scales ranging from molecules to cells to organismal behavior.

The ideal candidate will be intellectually curious, creative, and passionate to pursue fundamental biological questions both collaboratively and with a high degree of independence.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit:

• A current CV
• A 1-2 page cover letter describing research interests, prior accomplishments, and how their expertise aligns with the Guldner Lab’s research program
• Contact information for three professional references

Key Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and analyze original research projects both independently and collaboratively.
• Develop and implement experimental approaches to address scientific questions.
• Interpret and communicate research findings through publications, presentations, and scientific meetings.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff scientists, postdoctoral researchers, students, and external partners.
• Maintain accurate and detailed research records.
• Contribute to laboratory operations, scientific discussions, and mentoring activities as appropriate.
• Stay informed of emerging scientific developments and relevant literature.
• Adhere meticulously to all Institute policies, safety regulations, and ethical research standards as well as Guldner Lab expectations, as outlined on the Guldner Lab website.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What we Require

Required

• PhD., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree. Likely backgrounds include, but are not limited to, Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Aging Biology, Immunology, or Biochemistry.
• Record of scientific achievement through peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong foundation in experimental design and molecular and/or cellular biology in vivo and in vitro.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop, execute, analyze, and troubleshoot research experiments.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and with direct instruction or collaboratively.
• Collaborative and collegial attitude.

Preferred

• Experience with advanced experimental, computational, or analytical techniques relevant to the candidate's field of study. In addition to possessing general skills in cellular and molecular biology, we are especially eager to recruit candidates with experience in areas including, but not limited to, neuronal chemogenetic manipulations, induced-neuron and induced-glia cultures, and AI-assisted big data analysis.
• Experience working in collaborative and interdisciplinary research settings.
• Demonstrated commitment to scientific innovation and discovery.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to develop and drive innovative research questions with increasing independence.
• Strong scientific reasoning and ability to critically evaluate experimental results.
• Commitment to rigorous, reproducible, and ethical research.
• Ability to manage multiple experiments and research priorities effectively.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across scientific disciplines.
• Intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn and develop new experimental approaches.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific findings clearly to both specialized and interdisciplinary audiences.

 What We Can Offer

The full postdoctoral salary scale for wet lab opportunities is $70,500-$78,000. Placement on the postdoctoral salary scale is determined by the candidate’s applicable years of postdoctoral experience. Salaries are assigned according to the established experience tiers below. This range covers the entire postdoctoral training period; Individuals entering their first postdoctoral position, recent Ph.D. graduates should expect an offer at or close to $70,500 (minimum of the salary scale, typically placed at experience Tier 0).  Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

Salk Institute offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program.

Salk Values

The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk’s pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.

The acronym “I CARE” provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.

Why Salk?

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the world's premier independent research institutions, recognized globally for groundbreaking discoveries in neuroscience, genetics, immunology, plant biology, cancer, aging, and related disciplines. Founded by Jonas Salk, inventor of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is driven by a mission to understand the fundamental principles of life, improve human health, and train the next generation of scientific leaders.

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at Salk, you will join a vibrant and collaborative scientific community that encourages innovation, intellectual curiosity, and interdisciplinary research. Fellows have access to world-class faculty mentors, state-of-the-art core facilities, cutting-edge technologies, and numerous opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

Salk's uniquely collaborative culture fosters interactions across laboratories and disciplines, enabling researchers to tackle complex scientific questions and make meaningful contributions to science and society. Located in beautiful La Jolla, California, the Institute offers an inspiring environment for discovery, creativity, and scientific excellence.

Whether your goal is to pursue an academic, industry, government, or entrepreneurial career, Salk provides the mentorship, resources, and scientific community to help you achieve your professional aspirations while advancing research that has the potential to transform lives.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race (race is inclusive of traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include, but not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

Discrimination is prohibited with any intersectionality of the above-mentioned characteristics, including:

1.  Any combination of characteristics.
2.  A perception that the person has any of the characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.
3.  A perception that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.