What are the responsibilities and job description for the Postdoctoral Fellow (Translational Bioengineering) position at National Institutes of Health?
NCATS and Osong Medical Innovation Foundation (KBIOHealth) have established a research collaboration to evaluate biomaterials and imaging technologies for developing and validating 3D in vitro models for efficacy and toxicity drug testing.
About the position
Together, we are seeking applications from outstanding candidates to fill a postdoctoral fellow position. The position is in the 3D Tissue Bioprinting Laboratory, located in the Early Translation Branch of the center’s Division of Preclinical Innovation.
The selected candidate will join a multidisciplinary team of innovative scientists with expertise in assay development, high-throughput and high-content screening, compound management, automation engineering, bioinformatics, medicinal chemistry and various “-omics” technologies. DPI uses an integrated and multidisciplinary team approach to translate research findings into clinically relevant strategies.
Our laboratories are best known for their expertise in assay development, high-throughput screening, chemistry and application of other innovative technologies (e.g., 3-D microtissues and in silico methods). This expertise enables us to discover chemical probes for the interrogation of cell function under normal and disease conditions, and as potential starting point to initiate drug discovery programs. The scope of this translationally focused resource is unparalleled outside of large pharmaceutical companies. NCATS DPI laboratories emphasize the development of new paradigms to enable chemical genomics and development of new drugs for rare genetic and orphan diseases. NCATS recently established a program using tissue engineering techniques for the preparation of physiologically relevant tissue models for drug discovery and development.
The mission of the 3-D Tissue Bioprinting Laboratory is to tackle the key challenges of translating bioengineering technologies to drug discovery and development processes. The laboratories are located 10 minutes north of the NIH Campus in Rockville, Maryland, and the NCATS DPI has over 200 scientists who work with investigators throughout NIH and the world to translate the genome into biological function and therapeutics.
Core Responsibilities
The selected candidate will:
- Work in a highly creative environment, focusing on important aspects of tissue engineering using cutting-edge technologies such as 3-D bioprinting, cellular microscopy, stem cells and primary cell cultures.
- Establish new methods for the bioprinting of microtissues, their characterization and physiological validation, and to test the effects of drugs on relevant disease phenotypes in the microtissues created.
- Keep accurate and complete records of all scientific experiments according to established procedures and ensure that these records and raw data are properly retained.
- Draft technical reports, write manuscripts and patent applications, and will present their work to the scientific community.
Salary/Benefits
Annual stipends are commensurate with experience and based on the NIH Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Award and Visiting Fellow scale; medical insurance coverage will be provided. The fellow also may participate in Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences courses at NIH.
The position is renewable for up to 5 years. A pre-appointment process (e.g., background investigation, verification of qualifications and job requirements, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents) may determine employment after an offer has been made and accepted.
For any inquiries related to training in NCATS, feel free to reach out to Dr. Belen Hurle, the NCATS Intramural Training Director, at belen.hurle@nih.gov .
What you'll need to apply
Please submit a cover letter that includes a research summary and describes your interest in the position, a current curriculum vitae with a complete bibliography, and provide contact information of at least three references.
This position is not eligible for full-time remote work. NIH does not permit trainees to telework from overseas locations.
For the most current eligibility criteria please visit https://www.training.nih.gov/research-training/pd/ .
Contact name
Marc Ferrer
Contact email
NCATSbioprinting@mail.nih.gov
Qualifications
The selected candidate should be:
- A team player with high scientific standards.
- Able to work in an interactive, fast-paced environment.
- Self-motivated and willing to learn new technologies and disease physiology.
- Familiar with the methods and concepts of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
- Detail-oriented, self-motivated and able to multitask efficiently.
Disclaimer/Fine Print
U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply.