Postdoctoral Scholar - Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Wayne State University • Detroit, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Postdoctoral Scholar - Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at its Detroit campus location. Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Job Purpose: The purpose of the Postdoctoral Scholar 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 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 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 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.

The title of Postdoctoral Scholar applies to those who are paid a salary by WSU. Their salary is usually charged to a grant or contract secured by their faculty mentor. This position is time-limited and typically expires after completing 6 years of research training.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree
• Requires advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, predominantly intellectual in character.
• This knowledge is acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.
• Intermediate (3 to 4 years job-related experience)
• Job related experience can include doctorate training.
• Experience performing basic research techniques, preferred.
• 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

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cellular Biology, Genomics, Environmental Health Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Background in epidemiology, epigenetics, male reproductive biology, environmental health sciences, or related biomedical research fields.
• Experience with next-generation sequencing technologies and associated molecular techniques, including RNA-seq, RRBS, WGBS, EPIC arrays, or similar genomic and epigenomic approaches.
• Experience with computational biology, bioinformatics, and/or genomic data analysis.
• Experience working with human cohort studies and/or animal models.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Ability to generate, analyze, interpret, and communicate scientific data and research findings.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in preparing scientific manuscripts and publications.
• Ability to assist in the mentoring and training of graduate students and research trainees.

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.
• Conduct research on NIH-funded projects investigating the role of preconception environmental exposures on sperm epigenetics and early-life development using both human cohort studies and animal models.
• Participate in population-based studies, including the Sperm Environmental Epigenetics and Development Study (SEEDS), examining associations between paternal exposures to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), sperm epigenetics, and embryo development.
• Conduct laboratory and data-driven research related to the embryonic inheritance of sperm epigenetic alterations following preconception environmental exposures in animal models.
• Contribute to research projects investigating seminal plasma metabolomics, sperm mitochondrial biomarkers, and related mechanisms influencing reproductive and developmental outcomes.
• Utilize locus-specific and next-generation molecular and genomic techniques, including RNA-seq, RRBS, WGBS, EPIC arrays, and related methodologies in human and mouse samples.
• Generate, analyze, and interpret research data; prepare manuscripts for publication; and assist with the preparation of scientific presentations, reports, and grant-related materials.
• Work independently on research projects and assist in the training and mentoring of graduate students and other laboratory personnel as appropriate.
• Pursue independent research projects aligned with the scientific goals of the laboratory.

Benefits

• Annual Salary

What This Job Offers

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