Postdoctoral Researcher – Spatial Omics

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We are seeking a motivated and creative postdoctoral researcher with expertise in spatial transcriptomics, spatial proteomics, or related multiplexed molecular imaging methods. This position offers an exciting opportunity to develop and apply spatial omics approaches that connect molecular identity with synapse-level neuronal connectivity in health and disease.

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Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and execute spatial omics workflows in neural tissue.

• Apply advanced light and electron micrcoscopy platforms to acquire multimodal data that link spatial molecular information with connectomic maps.

• Collaborate with computational researchers to analyze spatial molecular data and integrate them with neuronal and synaptic reconstructions.

• Lead research projects, prepare manuscripts, present findings at scientific meetings, and contribute to grant proposals and progress reports.

• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in experimental techniques and scientific reasoning.

Qualifications​

• Ph.D. in biochemistry, biophysics, chemical biology, molecular biology, bioengineering, or a closely related field.

• Hands-on experience with spatial omics platforms or related in situ assays.

• Familiarity with basic omics data processing or demonstrated ability to work with computational biologists.

• Evidence of scientific productivity, including publications or preprints.

   •  Strong communication skills and an interest in collaborative, interdisciplinary research.

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How to apply

Please send a CV, a brief statement describing your research experience and interests, and contact information for three references to xiaotang@illinois.edu, with the subject line “Spatial Omics Postdoc.”

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About the Lu Lab

The Lu Lab develops innovative biochemical tools, advanced microscopy techniques, and computational methods to connect the molecular composition of brain tissue with the organization of neural circuits. We aim to understand how molecular and structural features support circuit function and how they change in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. The lab is affiliated with UIUC's Department of Chemistry, Department of Bioengineering, and Neuroscience Program, providing a uniquely cross-disciplinary training environment. Our researched is supported by the NIH New Investigator Award, BRAIN Initiative, Beckman Young Investigator Award, and BBRF Young Investigator Grant.

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About UIUC

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of the nation's premier public research universities — ranked among the top 50 globally by Times Higher Education. The Department of Chemistry has been a particularly fertile ground for scientific breakthroughs. It counts 12 Nobel Prize winners among its graduates, postdocs, and faculty — a legacy that spans disciplines and decades. Notable laureates with deep ties to the chemistry department include Paul Lauterbur, whose UIUC research on nuclear magnetic resonance contributed to the MRI technology that earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2003; E.J. Corey, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1990 for his development of the theory and methodology of organic synthesis during his time on the Illinois faculty; and most recently, Omar Yaghi (Ph.D. '90), awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of metal-organic frameworks. UIUC is also home to the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, one of the country's foremost interdisciplinary research institutes, fostering collaboration across engineering, biology, neuroscience, and the physical sciences.