Post Doctoral Associate-Beheshti Lab
About The Position
The Department of Surgery, the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and the Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Biomedicine at the University of Pittsburgh are seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Associate to join the Center for Space Biomedicine. This is a full-time position at the exciting intersection of space biology, mitochondrial biology, microRNA regulation, multi-omics, and translational human health research. This postdoctoral position offers a rare opportunity to work at the frontier of space biomedicine and translational research within one of the most dynamic and internationally connected environments in the field. The successful candidate will join a lab with deep roots in NASA-funded multi-omics research, including leadership of the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) and the NASA GeneLab Multi-Omics Analysis Working Group, a global consortium spanning over 100 institutions across 25 countries. The postdoc will contribute to a broad and exciting portfolio of federally funded and industry-supported research programs, including: * Space biomedicine projects spanning both ground-based simulated spaceflight experiments (radiation exposure models, microgravity analog systems, advanced tissue and organoid platforms) and active collaborations to send experiments to space on commercial and governmental spaceflight missions * Mitochondrial biology and miRNA research, building on the lab's published and ongoing work characterizing spaceflight-induced mitochondrial dysfunction across tissues and species using integrative multi-omic approaches, with the goal of identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets * Long COVID and post-viral research, including participation in clinical translational studies and clinical trial activities examining mitochondrial dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and microRNA regulatory networks in post-viral conditions * Drug repurposing and AI-driven discovery, with opportunities to contribute to work through TesaBio AI, a co-founded startup applying artificial intelligence to identify and validate therapeutic candidates across space-relevant and human disease contexts The postdoc will be embedded within the Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Biomedicine, a collaborative environment with strong ties to NASA, ESA, and global biomedical research networks. The candidate will be expected to lead independent research projects, contribute to grant development and manuscript preparation, mentor students and trainees, and collaborate across the University of Pittsburgh, the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and external partner institutions. The initial appointment is for one year, with the strong expectation of renewal for one to two additional years based on performance and funding availability.
Requirements
- Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in molecular biology, systems biology, bioinformatics, computational biology, biomedical sciences, space biology, or a related field
- Combination of computational and experimental strengths
- Expertise in one or more of the following areas: Space biomedicine or space biology, including familiarity with the physiological and molecular challenges of spaceflight and extreme environments
- Expertise in Bioinformatics and computational biology, including multi-omics data integration, RNA-seq analysis, systems biology, pathway analysis, and familiarity with platforms such as NASA GeneLab
- Strong programming skills in R, Python, or related platforms
- Wet lab proficiency, including hands-on experience with miRNA biology, exosome and extracellular vesicle isolation and purification, mammalian cell culture, organoid or stem cell models, transfection, luciferase assays, RNA isolation, qPCR, RNA sequencing, western blotting, protein purification, mitochondrial functional assays, and investigation of signaling pathways
- Excellent scientific writing and communication skills
- A track record of first-authored peer-reviewed publications
Nice To Haves
- Experience or understanding with machine learning, artificial intelligence, network biology, or systems-level analyses is a strong advantage
Responsibilities
- Lead independent research projects
- Contribute to grant development and manuscript preparation
- Mentor students and trainees
- Collaborate across the University of Pittsburgh, the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and external partner institutions
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
