Post Doctoral Fellow - Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences (OVAS)

Wayne State University • Detroit, MI

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of the Postdoctoral Scholar/Fellow positions is to provide individuals, who have recently (within the past 6 years) completed a doctoral degree, with a full-time program of advanced academic preparation and research training under the guidance of a supervising Faculty Mentor. Postdoctoral appointments are temporary by nature and are designed to develop the Postdoctoral Scholar/Fellow as an independent scientist and to enhance their professional skills. Postdoctoral Scholars/Fellows are considered to be in training for future faculty teaching/ research positions or for a position suited to their desired career outcomes and recognized for their dual status as trainees and employees.
Postdoctoral Scholars/Fellows provide leadership in the design and management of research programs. They additionally assist their Faculty Mentor(s) in designing protocols as well as training and/or supervising technical research staff to complete research projects. With the assistance of the Faculty Mentor, postdoctoral scholars/fellows write research grants with the goal of obtaining additional research grants. They conduct independent research that is expected to result in scholarly publications and presentations for research funding at scientific meetings.
The postdoctoral scholars/fellows complete technical laboratory and/or field experimental procedures. They conduct independent research with grant funding they were responsible for obtaining. Postdoctoral scholars /fellows, with permission and supervision of their mentor(s), may also be involved with the training of undergraduate and graduate students in the laboratory, which is another key aspect towards their preparation for future academic and non-academic positions.
This is a postdoctoral scientist position within the Landowski Laboratory in the Department of Ophthalmology, Visual, and Anatomical Sciences (OVAS) that will be supported by a newly-funded NIH grant. The Landowski laboratory studies the role of lipid metabolism in retinal health and disease using mouse models. The fellow will characterize the retinal phenotypes of mice using ERG, SD-OCT imaging, routine histology, RPE/retinal flatmount preparation and analysis, retinal vibratome preparation and immunofluorescence staining, EM imaging and analysis, and tissue collection. Tissues will be used for biochemical studies including Western blots, RNA-Sequencing, lipid analysis, qRT-PCR, and biochemical assays. Additional projects may include RPE cell cultures and human donor tissues. It is expected for the postdoctoral scientist to maintain meticulous records of data and protocols. There will be opportunities to lead or contribute to the preparation of manuscripts, presentations, and grant materials with Dr. Landowski and his team. The ideal candidate will be collaborative and work well within a team environment. However, candidate must be able to work independently. They may also serve as a mentor for undergraduate, graduate, and other members of the OVAS department. They will also contribute to team and lab meetings along with collaborators and partner organizations of the lab.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree
• Advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, predominantly intellectual in character, acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.
• Intermediate (3 to 4 years job-related experience)
• Job related experience can include doctorate training.
• Must have distinguished themselves in research.
• Prior recipient of funding for research based on individual achievements.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to secure grants and funding for research.
• Ability to collect, analyze, summarize and interpret research findings in reports and communicate results to the field.
• Knowledge of and experience with current scientific integrity principles.
• Excellent time management and organization skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with others in a collaborative environment.
• Microsoft office software skills.

Nice To Haves

• Obtained a PhD within the last two years.
• Experience with mice and cell culture, ophthalmology/retina research, lipid analysis techniques, and wet lab-focused techniques.
• Collaborative and work well within a team environment.
• Serve as a mentor for undergraduate, graduate, and other members of the OVAS department.

Responsibilities

• Perform scientific techniques or research protocols.
• Assist the Principal Investigator in designing and performing protocols.
• Design and perform experiments.
• Collect and log research data.
• Participate in implementing research objectives, ensuring compliance with all legal, regulatory and protocol guidelines.
• Assist other lab members with experiments as required.
• May mentor research assistants and students.
• With the assistance of the mentor, find and write research grants with the goal of obtaining additional research grant funding.
• Responsibilities may also include coordinating correspondence with applicants and grantees, acknowledging receipts of proposals, and maintaining a system to track proposals.
• Evaluate and perform preliminary analysis of the data using graphs, charts or tables to highlight the key points of the research results collected in accordance with the research protocols as stipulated.
• Prepare and present presentations regarding research project results for professional, scientific and academic conferences.
• Summarize and organize data results for submittal to academic and scholarly, peer-reviewed journals.
• Write scientific manuscripts and other documents for publication.
• Fact-check, proofread, and edit research documents to ensure accuracy.
• Maintain the laboratory work areas including routine maintenance on laboratory equipment as required.
• Order and organize required research supplies and records.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of work station.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Characterize the retinal phenotypes of mice using ERG, SD-OCT imaging, routine histology, RPE/retinal flatmount preparation and analysis, retinal vibratome preparation and immunofluorescence staining, EM imaging and analysis, and tissue collection.
• Use tissues for biochemical studies including Western blots, RNA-Sequencing, lipid analysis, qRT-PCR, and biochemical assays.
• Conduct RPE cell cultures and human donor tissues.
• Maintain meticulous records of data and protocols.
• Lead or contribute to the preparation of manuscripts, presentations, and grant materials.
• Contribute to team and lab meetings along with collaborators and partner organizations of the lab.

Benefits

• Annual Salary

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree