Postdoctoral Fellow | Host-Microbiome Biology/ Organ-on-Chip Models | Jalili Lab
About The Position
The Jalili Lab at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to investigate how interactions between intestinal bacteria and patient-derived epithelial tissues shape cellular states, tissue function, and disease susceptibility. Colorectal cancer will serve as a primary disease model, alongside broader questions concerning cancer initiation and evolution, epithelial reprogramming, host-microbiome interactions, and aging. The research uses patient-derived human colon organoids and perfused, hypoxia-enabled colon-on-a-chip models, with controlled bacterial-epithelial coculture, quantitative functional assays, and molecular profiling. The goal is to identify and characterize host pathways that regulate epithelial responses to microbial interactions. The position is suited to an experimental scientist interested in tissue engineering, cell and molecular biology, and host-microbiome research. Experience with organ-on-a-chip or microfluidic systems, bacterial-epithelial coculture, gastrointestinal biology, or cancer biology is desirable; molecular profiling and transcriptomic experience is an advantage. The role offers opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with clinician-scientists at Connecticut Children’s, bioengineers at the University of Connecticut, immunologists at UConn Health, and microbiome researchers at Duke University. JAX provides a multidisciplinary research and training environment, mouse resources, and core services, as well as trainee development in science communication, entrepreneurship, teaching, mentoring, and laboratory management. JAX Genomic Medicine is located in Farmington, Connecticut. Applicants must submit a cover letter summarizing research training and accomplishments, a personal statement of scientific interests and career goals (maximum one page), and a current CV with publications and contact information for three references. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The Jalili Lab welcomes candidates with academic or non-academic career goals, international candidates, women, and candidates from all backgrounds, and supports equal opportunity for all.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in bioengineering, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, cancer biology, or a related field.
- Strong hands-on research experience in cell and tissue engineering, 3D organoid culture, primary epithelial cell culture, or microphysiological systems.
- Strong experimental background in cellular and molecular biology, including microscopy, immunofluorescence, gene-expression analysis, and quantitative functional assays.
- At least one first-author publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
- Excellent writing and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and effectively with other team members.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in organ-on-a-chip technologies, microfluidics, bacterial culture, or host-microbe coculture.
- Prior research experience in gastrointestinal biology, host-microbiome interactions, cancer biology, epithelial plasticity, or aging.
- Experience with transcriptomics, multi-omics approaches, or in vivo models.
Responsibilities
- Establish, maintain, and characterize patient-derived human intestinal organoids, including nonmalignant and colorectal cancer tissues, and integrate organoid-derived epithelia into advanced microphysiological systems.
- Operate and optimize perfused, hypoxia-enabled gut-on-a-chip models to investigate epithelial function, differentiation, barrier integrity, and host-microbiome interactions.
- Design and conduct controlled bacterial-epithelial coculture experiments to investigate how microbial interactions influence epithelial cellular states, function, and disease-associated phenotypes.
- Apply cellular and molecular techniques, including microscopy, gene-expression analysis, and quantitative functional assays, to investigate epithelial responses, cellular plasticity, and underlying molecular mechanisms.
- Integrate functional studies with transcriptomic and other molecular profiling approaches to identify host pathways involved in epithelial regulation and disease susceptibility.
- Contribute to scientific publications, grant applications, and collaborative research projects.
Benefits
- Trainee development opportunities in science communication, entrepreneurship, teaching, mentoring, and laboratory management.
- Multidisciplinary scientific collaboration, mouse resources, and core services.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
