Neuropathology Research Scientist Brain and Body Donation Program

Join One of the World's Leading Clinicopathological Research Programs

The Banner Sun Health Research Institute Brain and Body Donation Program (BBDP) is seeking an outstanding early-career PhD scientist to join our multidisciplinary research team studying aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

This position offers a rare opportunity to build an independent research program within one of the most extensively characterized longitudinal clinicopathological cohorts in the world. For nearly three decades, the BBDP has combined prospective clinical evaluations with comprehensive postmortem neuropathological assessments, creating an exceptionally rich resource for investigations of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disorders, and related neurodegenerative conditions. The successful candidate will have access to extensive human brain and body tissue collections linked to detailed clinical, neuropsychological, neuropathological, genetic, imaging, and biomarker data. The position provides broad opportunities to develop and lead research projects, publish high-impact studies, establish national and international collaborations, and contribute to major initiatives advancing the understanding of neurodegenerative disease and aging.

What You Will Do

• Develop and lead innovative research projects focused on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disorders, and related neurodegenerative conditions using one of the world's most extensively characterized clinicopathological cohorts and its associated longitudinal clinical, imaging, biomarker, genetic, and neuropathological datasets.
• Analyze and integrate multidisciplinary data and biospecimens to investigate disease mechanisms, resilience, progression, and clinicopathological relationships across aging and neurodegenerative disorders.
• Lead and contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, grant applications, and collaborative research initiatives, with opportunities to develop an independent area of scientific focus and establish national and international collaborations.
• Work closely with clinical and research teams to integrate participant outcomes, longitudinal clinical observations, and neuropathological findings into impactful studies while helping maximize the scientific value of BBDP biological samples and data resources.
• Serve as a scientific resource for internal and external investigators, study staff, program participants, donors, and families, communicating scientific concepts, explaining research objectives and findings, and addressing research-related questions in collaboration with program leadership.
• Contribute to the scientific growth of BBDP, participating in collaborative initiatives, and fostering partnerships across academia, industry, and nonprofit organizations.

Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience, neuropathology, pathology, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline, with approximately 3-4 years (or more) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in neuropathology and neurodegenerative disease research, with experience working with human tissue specimens and clinicopathological datasets strongly preferred.
• Strong record of peer-reviewed publications, including first-author manuscripts, along with excellent scientific writing, analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience studying Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disorders, or related neurodegenerative conditions, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary research teams.
• Ability to communicate scientific concepts effectively to investigators, research staff, study participants, donors, and family members.
• Prior experience contributing to grant applications or obtaining research funding is welcomed but not required. Funding and infrastructure are available to support the successful candidate's research program, collaborations, and professional development.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Our organization supports a drug-free work environment.

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