Opportunities
Postdoctoral Position: Molecular Analysis of Remyelination
The Oligodendroglial Interactions Group is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join the team and lead a project defining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of remyelination. The work will combine single-nucleus transcriptomics, epigenomic analyses, and experimental models of CNS demyelination and repair, sitting at the interface of computational, molecular, cellular, and experimental neuroscience. The project is fully funded through the NIMH intramural budget.
This is an integrated computational and experimental role. The successful candidate will move fluidly between large-scale data analysis and hands-on bench work, using each to inform the other, and should be energized by both. Wet-lab responsibilities include working with a mouse model of de-/remyelination, tissue harvesting, nuclei isolation, molecular assays, immunohistochemistry, and confocal microscopy. Computational work includes bioinformatic analysis of single-nucleus RNA-seq and ATAC-seq datasets - both candidate-generated and publicly available - spanning differential expression, pseudotime analysis, peak calling, and motif analysis, with the goal of generating hypotheses that will be tested in vivo.
We welcome applicants from primarily wet-lab backgrounds who are actively building computational skills, as well as applicants from primarily computational backgrounds who are genuinely committed to developing hands-on experimental capability. What matters is the willingness to work across both arms of the project, not the starting point.
The postdoc will help shape the scientific direction of the project, collaborate with colleagues whose expertise complements their own, and develop the intellectual and technical foundation for an independent research career. First-author publication on the postdoc's project is both the expectation and a priority actively supported by the PI.
Mentorship and career development
The lab provides structured mentorship throughout the appointment. In practice, this includes:
- Weekly one-on-one meetings with the PI focused on project direction, data interpretation, and career development
- Regular presentation in lab meeting on a rotating basis, with substantive scientific feedback
- Active support for fellowship applications (K99 or equivalent) from year 2 onward, including drafting, internal review, and submission strategy
- Mentorship in manuscript preparation, grant writing, presentations, and networking, with explicit attention to the transition to the next career stage
Alumni of Dr. Merson, including at prior academic institutions, have gone on to obtain independent faculty positions internationally. The Oligodendroglial Interactions Group at the NIH, established in May 2022, maintains the same active commitment to supporting trainees through that transition.
Appointment terms
The position is available now, with an anticipated start date 2-6 months after an offer is made. Initial appointments are for one year, renewable annually for up to a total of five years in accordance with NIH IRP postdoctoral policies.
Because the work involves hands-on experimental research, the role is full-time on-site at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.
International applicants are encouraged to apply. Appointments are made through one of the following mechanisms, depending on candidate eligibility:
- IRTA (Intramural Research Training Award) for U.S. citizens and permanent residents
- Visiting Fellow for international applicants, typically on a J-1 visa or equivalent
Visa eligibility and appointment mechanisms will be considered in accordance with NIH policies. All NIH appointments require a background investigation; some international appointments additionally require NIH security clearance. Candidates should be prepared for these processes, which can add several weeks to the start date.
Our lab culture
Excellent science depends on a healthy scientific environment. The lab is intellectually ambitious and the work is demanding, but the environment is collaborative, respectful, and intellectually generous. We care about doing careful work, and we care about how we treat each other while doing it.
Scientific disagreement is welcomed and actively encouraged. In our lab meetings, the strength of an argument matters more than the seniority of who is making it. Junior members are expected to push back on senior ones, including the PI, and senior members are expected to listen when they do.
We expect all lab members to engage ideas on their merits, share credit generously, support and mentor junior colleagues, and contribute to the shared environment in which the science happens. In return, the PI commits to regular mentorship, honest feedback, active advocacy for your career, and the time and resources you need to do the work well.
If this is the kind of environment in which you do your best work, we would like to hear from you.
What we are looking for
Candidates should have:
- A Ph.D. or equivalent degree in neuroscience, molecular biology, cell biology, genomics, computational biology, or a related field
- At least one first-author publication in a peer-reviewed journal (published, in press, or available as a preprint under review)
- A strong analytical foundation in biostatistics, genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, or network biology, or clear evidence of active development in these areas
- Proficiency in Python and/or R, or strong motivation and aptitude to develop these skills rapidly
- Hands-on experience analyzing next-generation sequencing data. Single-cell or single-nucleus RNA-seq experience is preferred, with a clear commitment to building this expertise where it is not already established
- Genuine interest in hands-on wet-lab research, including molecular, cellular, histological, or animal/tissue-based experimental approaches
- A foundation in molecular or cellular neuroscience, glial biology, myelin biology, or neuroimmunology, or a clear interest in building one
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to give and receive scientific feedback constructively
- A collaborative orientation, including comfort working closely with colleagues, mentoring more junior lab members, and sharing expertise across the team
Prior experience with one or more of the following would be advantageous but is not required: experimental models of demyelination or remyelination, CNS tissue processing, immunohistochemistry, imaging, flow cytometry, nuclei isolation, library preparation, spatial transcriptomics, or epigenomic profiling.
The environment
Postdoctoral training in the NIH Intramural Research Program offers a uniquely resource-rich setting in which to develop as an independent scientist. In addition to the research itself, postdocs have access to scientific and career development programs, educational and career advising, and well-being and resilience resources.
The stipend is commensurate with experience according to NIH Intramural Research Program postdoctoral stipend guidelines. The position includes fully paid health insurance covering medical, dental, and vision needs for the postdoc and eligible family members, as well as funding for conference travel and training. For additional information on pursuing a post-doc at NIH, please visit: https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/postdoc_irp
How to apply
Please send the following to Dr. Tobias Merson at toby.merson@nih.gov:
- A current CV
- A two-page statement describing your research interests, career goals, and your interest in combining computational analysis with hands-on experimental research
- The names and contact information of three or four academic references
References will be contacted only after shortlisting.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. First review of applications will begin in mid-June 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an initial video interview, followed by meetings with lab members and a research presentation.
Accessibility. Candidates with disabilities are warmly invited to request accommodations at any point in the application or interview process by contacting Dr. Merson directly. Requests will be handled confidentially.