Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate

Brown University

Providence, RI

Posted 9/26/2025

The Yajima Lab studies basic biology, using sea urchin embryos as a model system, with a focus on 1) asymmetric cell division, 2) metabolic regulation, and 3) localized mRNA translation. PhD students who are graduating in the next year are also welcome to apply!

Project description:

  1. Molecular evolution of polarity factors and asymmetric cell division: Test how molecular evolution of AGS, a polarity factor, alters the asymmetric cell division and developmental program during the course of echinoderm evolution (Reference article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31439829; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39714020)
  2. Metabolic regulation during embryonic development: Identify how metabolic regulation contributes to developmental transition. (Reference article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40790037/)
  3. Localized mRNA translation on the spindle: Identifying how an RNA helicase regulates translation with spatiotemporal precision during asymmetric cell division. (Reference article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35444184)

Qualifications
Requirement:

  • Extensive knowledge and skills in invertebrate or vertebrate embryology, as well as general expertise in cell and developmental biology. Specific skills include embryo culture, confocal microscopy, and microinjection.
  • Motivations to apply for fellowships to support their independence and pursue a faculty position after the postdoc training (Lab funds are available as necessary in this process).

Preferred experiences:

  • Experience in optogenetic manipulations of proteins and 4D-confocal imaging.
  • Experience in geometry analysis, using relevant software (e.g., Cellpose, Imaris, LimeSeg, etc).
  • Experience in computational biology, including multi-omics analyses, using R or Python.

Applicants must have completed all requirements for a doctoral degree before the start of the position. Salary will be based on the NIH Postdoc scale that Brown follows and is commensurate with experience.
 
Application Instructions
Applicants should email a cover letter and CV that contains a list of publications and the names and contact information of three references to the PI (Mamiko Yajima, PhD: [email protected]). Application review will begin immediately.

Last Updated 09/26/2025