NCBS Post Doctoral Fellowship

Research interests of our faculty members lie in the frontier areas of biology, and the science at NCBS (a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research ) uses experimental and computational approaches in the study of molecules, cells and organisms. We aim to understand biology at each of these levels to advance an integrated view of life processes. The talent and drive of our students and faculty members continues to show us the way to good science.

Hiring Postdoctoral fellow & PhD student

Research Topic
A new genetic model : A fresh mechanistic look at schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disease for which the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive disease onset and progression remain poorly understood. We have generated two new CRISPR-mouse models of a genetic-risk allele for schizophrenia, aiming to connect risk-association to mechanistic insight into neuronal and glial alterations.

Drawing on interdisciplinary expertise, the project will link cell-specific mechanisms from our mouse models to patient-derived functional genomics and iPSC/organoid models. The ultimate goal is to decipher fundamental mechanisms of the disease to uncover new pathways for targeted therapeutic intervention.

What you will do
• Characterise the novel genetic model across behaviour, circuit activity and cellular phenotype
• Targeted manipulation to uncover mechanistic insights into positive and cognitive symptoms
• Connect TCF4-related patient SNPs to their functional consequences and risk association
• Validate insights in human iPSC- and organoid-based systems for human-relevant discoveries

Toolkits established over years in the lab (We treat no technique as off-limits)
Newest: Mini2P two-photon recording of neural activity in freely behaving mice, Whole-brain functional imaging by SPECT, Alongside: robotic stereotaxic surgery · chemogenetics · optogenetics · electrophysiology mouse genetics · behaviour · morphometry and high resolution microscopy · flow cytometry · molecular biology and cell culture

Postdoc position Eligibility
- PhD in Neuroscience/Genetics/Biology
- Strong analytical & experimental skills with a knack for trouble-shooting
*Experience with rodents, organoids, molecular biology, multi-omics, and data mining will be preferred

PhD student Eligibility
- Master’s in Biological or Physical sciences, OR Bachelor’s in Engineering
- Analytical mind, Ability to multi-task
- Discovery mindset & drive to learn

Email a recent CV and a short write-up on your specific interest in this project. Request 3 referees to directly email their letter for you to Prof. Ghosh. PhD candidates and students with their own fellowship (UGC/CSIR and similar) should also apply through the NCBS PhD programme.
* Follow up if you do not hear back within one week after emailing the relevant information.

HOW TO APPLY - Write to hiyaa@ncbs.res.in