Postdoctoral Fellow | Host-Microbiome Biology/ Organ-on-Chip Models | Jalili Lab
About The Position
The Jalili Lab at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to study 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 investigations of 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 regulating 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. The fellow will have opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations with clinician-scientists at Connecticut Children’s, bioengineers at the University of Connecticut, immunologists at UConn Health, and microbiome researchers at Duke University. The Jackson Laboratory offers a multidisciplinary research and training environment, mouse resources, and core services. Trainees can also develop professional skills in science communication, entrepreneurship, teaching, mentoring, and laboratory management. JAX Genomic Medicine is located in Farmington, Connecticut, within 1.5–2 hours of Boston and New York City, with access to major highways, rail networks, and international airports. 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 lab supports postdocs pursuing academic or non-academic careers and welcomes international candidates, women, and candidates from all backgrounds. The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees across locations in the United States, Japan, and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community to improve human health.
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 members of a productive team.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in organ-on-a-chip technologies, microfluidics, bacterial culture, or host-microbe coculture is highly desirable.
- Prior research experience in gastrointestinal biology, host-microbiome interactions, cancer biology, epithelial plasticity, or aging is preferred.
- Experience with transcriptomics, multi-omics approaches, or in vivo models is an advantage.
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.
- Use 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
