Researcher - Medicine

Penn State University•Tallahassee, FL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Penn State College of Medicine, Department of Medicine in Hershey, PA is seeking a non-tenure line Researcher. The Nighot laboratory has been focused on intestinal mucosal homeostasis in health and disease. The lab is especially interested in the role of defective intestinal tight junction (TJ) barrier in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis, and the role of autophagy in TJ barrier regulation. Autophagy, a cell survival mechanism, degrades unnecessary, misfolded and long-lived proteins and organelles and helps cell survive under stress. The lab's pioneering studies have shown that autophagy enhances TJ barrier and ameliorates intestinal inflammation in experimental colitis. We are also interested in investigating novel targets to combat IBD, and the role of extra cellular matrix proteins, ion transporters, signaling molecules, and cytokines in intestinal inflammation. We have also recently begun investigating the role of autophagy and gut-liver axis in liver diseases. We use in-vivo, ex-vivo, whole animal, and in-vitro approaches in our research work. The techniques used in the lab include cell and molecular approaches, genetically modified animal models, advanced confocal imaging, flow cytometry, innovative culture models such as organoids, and working with clinical samples. The main responsibility of the person in this position is to actively participate in the ongoing research projects in the lab, explore new techniques and new direction of research, and provide support to the PI in developing research proposals. Ample professional and career development opportunities are available at the Penn State College of Medicine.

Requirements

PhD in cell and molecular biology or comparable field
Experience in the related research field
Evidence of strong research knowledge, skills and attitudes
Interest in the research field
Familiarity and success with the academic team research environment
Ability for critical, out-of-box thinking, innovation in research work
Ability to interrogate cellular pathways
Practical knowledge of advanced molecular techniques beside molecular cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, and genetic modulation
Highly productive with motivation and passion for science
Wide range of research experiences, including analysis of human datasets

Responsibilities

Developing, designing and conducting research projects under general direction of the PI but in self-driven fashion
Developing appropriate research methods
Creative use of animal models
Data analyses and interpretation
Presentation of research in scientific conferences and meetings
Manuscript preparation