Summary

The Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine is seeking a full-time postdoctoral associate to support an ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) study aim of the NSF funded study “Integrating Human-Derived Neural Networks and AI for Information Processing in Brain Organoids” under the supervision of Dr. Melanie Jeske. This project is a 4-year collaboration between researchers at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA), and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and Baylor College of Medicine.

The postdoctoral associate will support the ethnographic and ethics arm of this project which attends to known ELSI issues in the design and process of brain organoid research, identify emergent concerns as the research is underway, and assess the utility of existing ethical frameworks for brain organoids in research practice. Bringing together approaches from STS, sociology, and bioethics, the study will address key STS and sociological questions on technoscience, scientific practice, ethical concerns with novel neurotechnologies.

• Start date: As early as October 1, 2025
• Initial term: 1 year, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding
• Location: Houston, TX and San Antonio, TX 

Job Duties

• Conducts qualitative data collection (ethnographic observations and in-depth interviews) and analysis.
• Provides project support, including organizing project files, scheduling project activities and meetings, taking meeting minutes, and coordinating with co-investigators, collaborators, and project personnel across multiple sites to move projects forward.
• Maintains project databases, tracking and reporting on project components to ensure timelines are adhered to and are deadlines met.
• Oversees data management and compliance with research regulations (such as human subjects protections).
• Conducts comprehensive literature searches in the areas of medical sociology, science and technology studies, bioethics, health equity, and biomedical science literatures.
• Leads and assists with publishing research findings as manuscripts in relevant academic journals.
• Presents papers/project findings at internal, local, national and international meetings.
• Organizes, leads, and attends project meetings.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications

• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
• No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in sociology, science and technology studies, anthropology, or a related field.
• Experience with ethnographic research methods and in-depth interviewing.
• Strong interest in science and technology studies (STS) and bioethics and familiarity with basic neuroscience concepts and STS theory and literature.
• Robust analytical and written communication skills, including proficiency in presentation and educational content development.
• Proficiency in MAXQDA, Dedoose, or other qualitative software.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, efficient, and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and institutions and participate on large research teams, while working independently.
• Ability to display a professional, positive attitude with strong interpersonal skills.
• Team oriented, collaborative mindset.
• Demonstrate a high degree of flexibility in accepting work assignments with the ability to effectively prioritize tasks, understand workflow processes, and troubleshoot emergent issues