Post-Doctoral Fellow

About the role

Position Overview: 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) is seeking qualified candidates for a post-doctoral fellow position to work on a nationally-funded project focused on developing nanotechnology for structural determinations of proteins. The candidate should have a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemistry. Experience in nanopore sensing both from a fabrication and operational perspective is preferred. A track record in Resistive Pulse Sensing (RPS), familiarity with machine learning, and protein/peptide chemistry is desirable. The person hired will provide leadership to graduate students working on this project. This position has funding for up to two years. Anticipated start date: Friday, January 1, 2027. Contact: Dr. Steven Soper, ssoper@ku.edu.

Responsibilities

• 35% - Using plastic in-plane nanopore sensors (injection molding and thermal fusion bonding), conduct experiments to secure resistive pulse signatures for the 20 amino acids.
• 20% - Build an integrated system in plastic via injection molding consisting of a solid-phase exopeptidase reactor coupled to the dual in-plane nanopore sensor to determine amino acid composition of input peptides.
• 15% - Fabricate in-plane nanopore sensors via a modified injection molding process with assembly using thermal fusion bonding; evaluate different surface modification chemistries, including TRIS modification.
• 10% - Monitor graduate students on RPS measurements of single amino acid molecules and the action of exopeptidases when surface immobilized.
• 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.
• 5% - Attend weekly group and sub-group meetings, make presentations at these meetings on an irregular basis, and present research at national/international meetings at the PI's discretion.
• 5% - Participate in outreach activities to the general public and school children on basic concepts of protein/peptide/amino acid chemistry and RPS sensing (mandated by NSF).

Requirements

Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemistry conferred at the time of appointment. To be appointed at the Postdoctoral Researcher title or equivalent, the Ph.D. must be in hand; appointments made without a diploma or certified transcript indicating an earned doctorate are conditional hires and are appointed on an acting basis not to exceed 6 months. This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Skills

Preferred qualifications: experience in nanopore sensing (fabrication and operational), experience with Resistive Pulse Sensing (RPS), knowledge or experience with machine learning and protein/peptide chemistry.

Pay

Advertised salary range: $58,656.