Human Neuron Core Director

Job Details

DIRECTOR, HUMAN NEURON CORE

BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL / TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE CENTER

About the Human Neuron Core

The Rosamund Stone Zander and Hansjoerg Wyss Translational Neuroscience Center (TNC) at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School is seeking a highly qualified Core Director to lead its Human Neuron Core (HNC). The HNC is a premier shared resource that provides the Boston Children’s and Harvard research community with state-of-the-art induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) services, including iPSC reprogramming, quality control, banking, and disease-relevant neuronal differentiation. In addition to supporting investigators across a broad portfolio of neurodevelopmental and neurogenetic disorders—including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, Rett syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder, and related conditions—by delivering patient-derived and isogenic human neuronal models for mechanistic research and therapeutic development, the HNC leads efforts for optimization and standardization in iPSC-derived neuronal modeling.

HNC services include differentiation of iPSCs into multiple neuronal subtypes (excitatory and inhibitory neurons, astrocytes, and other CNS cell types), CRISPR genome editing services, assay development and high-content screening, and a curated iPSC biorepository. The Core collaborates closely with TNC faculty and external investigators to translate iPSC-based disease models into actionable insights for drug discovery and biomarker identification.

Position Overview

The Core Director will provide scientific and operational leadership for the Human Neuron Core, overseeing all aspects of Core function including service delivery, scientific innovation, staff development, quality assurance, and financial sustainability. The Director will report to the Chair of Neurology Department and Managing Director of the TNC and will serve as the scientific point of contact for investigator teams utilizing HNC services across Boston Children’s Hospital, HMS-affiliated institutions, and external academic and industry collaborators.

The successful candidate will be appointed as an Instructor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and scientific leadership for all Human Neuron Core programs and service lines, including iPSC reprogramming, neuronal differentiation, CRISPR editing, assay development, and biorepository operations.
• Oversee and mentor a team of PhD scientists, staff scientists, research associates, and technical personnel; foster a collaborative, rigorous, and inclusive scientific environment.
• Develop and implement cutting-edge iPSC differentiation protocols for human neuronal subtypes relevant to neurodevelopmental and neurogenetic disease research.
• Establish and maintain phenotyping platforms and quality control standards for iPSC-derived neuronal preparations, including morphological, electrophysiological, transcriptomic, and proteomic characterization.
• Partner with TNC faculty and external investigators to design and execute iPSC-based disease modeling and translational research projects; provide expert scientific consultation on experimental design and data interpretation.
• Lead grant writing efforts to secure NIH and other extramural funding in support of Core operations, new technology development, and collaborative research programs.
• Oversee Core budget, billing, and iLab scheduling systems; ensure financial sustainability and equitable access for internal and external users.
• Maintain and expand the HNC iPSC biorepository, including donor recruitment workflows, consent processes, quality assurance, and data management.
• Maintain a strong independent and collaborative publication record and represent the Core at national and international scientific conferences.
• Ensure all Core activities comply with institutional biosafety, regulatory, and ethical standards governing human tissue and iPSC research.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience, cell biology, molecular biology, or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of hands-on experience with human iPSC technology, encompassing both iPSC differentiation into neuronal cell types and comprehensive iPSC phenotyping (morphological, functional, transcriptomic, and/or proteomic characterization).
• Demonstrated expertise in human neuronal differentiation, including established protocols for generating clinically and disease-relevant neuronal subtypes from iPSCs.
• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience as a Director of a shared research Core facility, with full accountability for scientific direction, personnel management, and operational performance.
• Documented experience overseeing and mentoring PhD-level scientists and research staff, with a track record of supporting career development and scientific independence.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, with contributions as first or senior/corresponding author in the fields of iPSC biology, stem cell neuroscience, or related areas.
• Experience supporting patient advocacy group preclinical research goals, such as establishing new iPSC resources and developing assays for phenotypic screening. Experience working with industry partners to develop data packages to complete IND applications.
• Successful extramural grant writing experience, including NIH awards or equivalent, as principal investigator, co-investigator, or core director.
• Strong record of education in best practices for iPSC-derived neuron phenotyping through publications, workshops, and/or presentations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CRISPR-based genome editing in iPSC lines, including isogenic control generation and knock-in/knock-out strategies.
• Familiarity with high-content imaging, electrophysiology (patch-clamp or multi-electrode array), or functional screening platforms applied to neuronal preparations.
• Background in neurodevelopmental or neurogenetic disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or related conditions.
• Experience with iPSC biorepository operations, including donor consent and recruitment, sample banking, QC pipelines, and data management systems.
• Experience managing Core billing and scheduling systems (e.g., iLab Solutions) and Core cost models.
• Prior experience in an academic medical center or research hospital environment.

About the Rosamund Stone Zander and Hansjoerg Wyss Translational Neuroscience Center

The Translational Neuroscience Center at Boston Children’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of neurodevelopmental and neurogenetic disorders. The TNC houses multiple shared core facilities—including the Human Neuron Core, Clinical Neurophysiology Research Core, Translational Genomic Medicine Core, Medicinal Chemistry Core, and Data Organization Collaboration Service—supporting a vibrant community of investigators across the BCH/HMS ecosystem and beyond. The TNC is committed to a bench-to-bedside discovery model that connects patient biology directly to therapeutic development.

Interested candidates should forward their curriculum vitae and a brief statement of research interests and leadership philosophy to:

TNC@childrens.harvard.edu

Translational Neuroscience Center
Boston Children’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115