About Us

Dr. Tian’s lab develops and optimizes fluorescent sensors to detect neurotransmitter and neuromodulator release in the brain. Our goal is to advance the understanding of neuronal communication, connectivity, and dysfunction in both healthy and diseased states. We engineer, prototype, and refine molecular optical tools to track neurotransmission dynamics.

Position Overview

We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to lead the next generation of fluorescent sensor development. The ideal candidate has a strong background in Protein Chemistry, Protein Engineering, Neuroimaging, or Computational Modeling and a passion for molecular design.

Key Responsibilities:

• Engineer, optimize, and benchmark novel fluorescent sensors for neurochemical detection.
• Develop high-throughput screening workflows for sensor validation.
• Apply imaging techniques (fiber photometry, two-photon, miniscope) to study neurotransmission in disease models (e.g., depression, Parkinson’s).
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to high-impact publications.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or related field.
• Strong publication record, including at least one first-author paper in a peer-reviewed journal.
• Experience in sensor development, molecular evolution, or fluorescent protein engineering is highly desirable.
• Interest or experience in neuroimaging applications is highly desirable.