Postdoctoral Scientist- Kim and Abdus-Saboor Lab

The Kim Lab at Princeton University and Abdus-Saboor Lab at Columbia University are seeking an energetic, curious, and driven Postdoctoral Scientist with expertise in protein engineering to join our research teams for a unique, collaborative opportunity.

As a joint Postdoctoral Scientist in the Abdus-Saboor and Kim Labs, you will have the chance to bring your enthusiasm, ideas, and expertise to various ongoing and new projects. We are seeking a candidate who will employ high-throughput screening assays and protein large language models to design new activity-dependent labeling enzymes and transcriptional reporters optimized for application in the peripheral nervous system . The candidate will have the opportunity to validate and apply these tools in mice through collaborations/cross-training between the two labs, alongside other approaches such as calcium imaging, optogenetics, single-cell RNA sequencing, or proteomics.

The Kim lab (located within the Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute and Princeton Neuroscience Institute) engineers technologies for stable, activity-dependent tagging and manipulation of modulated neural circuits in behaving animals. Our broader goal is to employ these technologies to make fundamental biological discoveries about the molecular properties of cells (both in the brain and in the body) that are disrupted in neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases. Our recent work includes the development of a new class of activity-dependent enzymes that tag proteins present in drug-modulated circuits in vivo. For more information, see

The Abdus-Saboor lab (located at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute) investigates how the body-brain axis drives behavioral responses to different types of touch and pain. The lab takes an integrated approach, performing genetic manipulations and neural recordings in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. These studies are conducted in both mice and naked mole-rats. For more information, see

Joint-hire logistics: The candidate will be an employee of HHMI and will partner with the primary host institution of Princeton University. The candidate will receive professional, scientific, and career development support equally by both faculty mentors, and will be expected to attend group meetings of both the Kim Lab and the Abdus-Saboor Lab (with some combination of in-person and hybrid attendance). They will work closely with members of the Kim lab for tool engineering and initial validation, and they will work closely with members of the Abdus-Saboor lab for tool testing and application in the peripheral nervous system. The relative closeness of Princeton and Columbia will allow the trainee to shuttle across institutions, with financial support from the PIs, to accomplish working in both groups as necessary.

Application Instructions
Please include the following items in one PDF as part of your application. Cover Letter MUST be included for full consideration.

• A cover letter including a summary of your research experience, your career goals, and your expertise in the relevant field(s).

• Your curriculum vitae includes a list of publications with brief (2-3 sentences) descriptions of your contributions to the published work.

• Names and contact information for at least 3 references.

What we provide:

• A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive health and welfare benefits.

• One on one mentorship with PIs of both labs.

• Opportunity to work across multiple disciplines, including cellular to animal work.

• Exposure to cutting-edge scientific research and opportunities for professional development.

• Authorship on independent and collaborative scientific publications.

• Opportunities to attend domestic conferences in addition to departmental and HHMI retreats to present scientific findings.

• Being part of the larger scientific communities at both Princeton University and Columbia University.

What you’ll do:

To be considered for a postdoctoral associate position, ideal candidates will have experience and prior training in some of the following areas:

• Protein engineering (rational design, directed evolution, computational design, etc.)

• Molecular biology (cloning, AAV handling)

• Cell culture testing (HEK cells, primary neuron culture)

• Biochemical assays and screening (antibody staining, fluorescence-based imaging assays, FACS, cell stimulation read-outs)

• Animal testing in the brain, spinal cord, and/or peripheral nervous system (AAV injection, perfusions, slicing)

• Imaging (epifluorescence and confocal)

• Data analysis (quantification of fluorescence labeling)

What you bring:

• A Ph.D. in bioengineering, chemical biology, neuroscience, or related field of science.

• Advanced experience in creative design for molecular tool engineering.

• Ability to learn quickly and to work both independently and as part of a team.

• High level of research integrity and motivation.

• Positive attitude with a problem-solving, resilient approach.

• Resourcefulness in overcoming challenges, and the ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

• Willingness to fully participate in lab and departmental activities, to positively engage with other team members and promote their success (e.g., by reviewing manuscripts, participating in practice talks), mentor junior colleagues, and contribute to an inclusive and productive research climate.

Physical Requirements

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.