Post-Doctoral Fellow

About the role

The Center of BioModular Multi-Scale Systems for Precision Medicine (CBMM) at the University of Kansas (College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and School of Engineering) seeks a post-doctoral fellow for a nationally-funded project developing nanotechnology for structural determinations of proteins. The position is funded for up to two years. The successful candidate will provide leadership to graduate students on the project.

Responsibilities

• Conduct experiments using plastic in-plane nanopore sensors (fabricated via injection molding and thermal fusion bonding) to secure resistive pulse signatures for the 20 amino acids (35%).
• Build an integrated plastic system via injection molding that couples a solid-phase exopeptidase reactor to a dual in-plane nanopore sensor for determining amino acid composition of input peptides (20%).
• Fabricate in-plane nanopore sensors via a modified injection molding process with thermal fusion bonding assembly; evaluate surface modification chemistries including TRIS modification (15%).
• Monitor graduate students performing RPS measurements of single amino acid molecules and exopeptidase action on surface-immobilized substrates (10%).
• Write peer-reviewed papers on detection and identification of single amino acids using RPS and on-line detection of amino acids following exopeptidase action on peptides (10%).
• Attend weekly group and sub-group meetings, present at these meetings on an irregular basis, and present research at national/international meetings at the PI's discretion (5%).
• Participate in NSF-mandated outreach activities for the general public and school children on protein/peptide/amino acid chemistry and RPS sensing (5%).

Requirements

• Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemistry conferred at time of appointment.
• Note: Appointment at the Postdoctoral Researcher title requires the Ph.D. in hand. Appointments without a diploma or certified transcript indicating an earned doctorate are conditional hires on an acting basis not to exceed 6 months.

Qualifications

• Experience in nanopore sensing from both fabrication and operational perspectives.
• Experience with Resistive Pulse Sensing (RPS).
• Knowledge of or experience with machine learning and protein/peptide chemistry as evidenced by application materials.

Pay

Advertised salary range: $58,656.

Application review begins October 15, 2026; anticipated start date January 1, 2027. Contact: Dr. Steven Soper, ssoper@ku.edu.