Working/Functional Title
Assistant/Associate Professor Tenure System
Position Summary
The faculty of the Department of Translational Neuroscience seek a motivated neuroscientist with a track record of scholarship in age-related neurodegenerative disease. While Translational Neuroscience hopes to enhance its faculty scholarship in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies, discipline experts in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias or beyond are also encouraged to apply.
Currently, Translational Neuroscience consists of fifteen faculty with particularly strong foci in Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies and Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies. Labs employ model systems ranging from cell, to invertebrate, to rodent models. Areas of investigation for the Parkinson’s team’s span alpha-synuclein biology, neuroinflammation, levodopa-induced dyskinesias, deep brain stimulation, environmental exposure, and aging contributors to degeneration. The Alzheimer’s team’s expertise spans tau and amyloid biology, neuroinflammation, transcriptomic and proteomics, cell and animal model development, disease biomarkers and novel therapeutics.
The successful candidate is expected to bring or develop an independent, nationally competitive research program that complements these larger neurodegenerative disease research portfolios while contributing to collaborations in service of larger program level projects, and the mentoring and didactic instruction of graduate trainees.
MSU offers extremely competitive salaries, benefits, and start-up packages. This position is located at the Grand Rapids Research Center, 400 Monroe St NW, Grand Rapids, MI.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Terminal -Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology
Minimum Requirements
- The position requires a PhD or equivalent with a record of sustained scholarship in Parkinson’s disease or closely allied research areas, commensurate with experience.
- The scope of the candidate’s research program should demonstrate a commitment to translational efforts aimed at bridging basic science discoveries with clinical application.
- A stated desire, or an established track record of participating in multidisciplinary team-based collaborations is essential.
- Dedication to mentoring students/fellows should be evident.
- Applicants for Associate Professor with Tenure should have a successful, sustained, active extramural funding history in neurodegenerative disease research.
Desired Qualifications
- Research foci including basal ganglia circuit dynamics, cognition, astrocyte/microglial biology, synaptic transmission, or lysosomal function are desired but not required.
Required Application Materials
- Cover letter detailing research interests and mentoring philosophy.
- Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications and funding history.
- Statement of research accomplishments and future research plans (3 page maximum).
- Contact information for three professional references.
Review of Applications Begins On
05/13/2026
Summary of Health Risks
Work with animals or unfixed animal tissue
Remote Work Statement
MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.
Website
https://translationalscience.msu.edu/
Department Statement
The nationally ranked Department of Translational Neuroscience is an academic unit within the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSU-CHM) and is the home of 15 faculty members whose research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases with special emphases in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and traumatic brain injury. Established in 2009, the department has garnered extramural awards exceeding $100M, and attributes much of its success to team-focused collaborative research, and a strong community culture. Translational Neuroscience laboratories are located within the new 85,000 net sq. ft. state-of-the-art MSU Grand Rapids Research Center (GRRC). The over $200 million expansion of MSU-CHM to Grand Rapids, MI is, by design, a coordinated effort among local partner hospitals (Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids) and research-intensive institutions (MSU-CHM, Van Andel Research Institute) to bring basic researchers and clinicians together to create unified translational science initiatives. With these resources, MSU-CHM and its partner institutions in Grand Rapids are laying the foundation to create a geographic nexus unparalleled in its commitment to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s research excellence.
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
