Postdoctoral Research Associate, Charlton Lab - Pediatrics

UVA Health • Charlottesville, VA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Virginia’s Department of Pediatrics is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate for the Charlton Laboratory. The role supports research on kidney development, neonatal kidney disease, and the long-term consequences of early-life kidney injury. The successful candidate will conduct research involving animal models, histology, molecular and cellular biology, and human biospecimens, while contributing to experimental design, data analysis, publications, and collaboration across the research team.

Postdoctoral employment is temporary and normally limited to individuals awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate within the previous five years. The appointment involves full-time research or scholarship at the University, is supervised by a senior scholar, and is intended as training that prepares the appointee for a full-time academic or research career. The appointee may publish the results of their research or scholarship during the training period.

This is a full-time, benefited, restricted position dependent on continuation of available funding. It is based in Charlottesville, Virginia, and must be performed fully on-site. Starting compensation is $63,480, commensurate with education and experience. Background checks and health screenings will be conducted for new hires. Candidates requiring immigration sponsorship now or in the future may be considered.

Requirements

• Ph.D. with a research emphasis at the time of hire.
• Experience with animal models, histology, and molecular biology.
• Willingness to learn or prior experience working with human biospecimens.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, careful attention to detail, and a strong commitment to teamwork and mentoring trainees.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while communicating regularly with the research team.
• Professionalism, integrity, reliability, and respect for colleagues and research participants.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with laboratory animals, including handling mice and basic experimental procedures.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Interest in teaching, mentoring, and working with undergraduate students, graduate students, medical trainees, or other learners.

Responsibilities

• Perform animal research procedures, including animal handling, monitoring, breeding, genotyping, tissue collection, and maintaining accurate study records.
• Conduct histologic studies, including tissue fixation, processing, embedding, sectioning, staining, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, microscopy, and quantitative image analysis.
• Perform molecular and cellular laboratory techniques, potentially including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR and quantitative PCR, protein isolation, Western blotting, ELISA, and preparing samples for sequencing or other assays.
• Process, catalog, store, and analyze human biospecimens according to approved protocols and institutional safety and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, electronic databases, specimen inventories, and animal records.
• Assist with experimental design, protocol development, troubleshooting, data collection, analysis, and presentation.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, monitor supply inventories, prepare reagents, and coordinate ordering.
• Support compliance with animal care, biosafety, human-subjects research, and other institutional requirements.
• Train and supervise students and other laboratory members in research techniques, laboratory safety, recordkeeping, and responsible conduct of research.
• Collaborate with the principal investigator, research staff, students, clinical collaborators, and other laboratories to advance shared research goals.
• Contribute to abstracts, presentations, manuscripts, and grant-related materials as appropriate.

Benefits

• Benefited position; specific benefits are not detailed in the posting.

What This Job Offers

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