Post-Doctoral Fellow in Lung Biology

Mentor and Department

Mentor: Michael F. Beers, MD
Department: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine

Funding Sources

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Private endowment

Eligibility

Open to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.

Description

The Lung Epithelial Biology Laboratory at the Penn Lung Biology Institute (LBI), directed by Dr. Michael Beers, offers postdoctoral fellowships to join a collaborative project focused on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other parenchymal lung diseases. The lab’s program, funded by NIH, the Department of Veterans Affairs, private foundations, and industry, investigates molecular mechanisms governing tissue injury and repair, emphasizing discovery, target identification, validation, and proof‑of‑principle studies to uncover novel therapeutic pathways for fibrotic lung disease.

The fellow may concentrate on one or more of the following areas: epithelial biology, immunological networks, metabolomics, epithelial‑mesenchymal crosstalk, and/or transcriptomics/proteomics. Research will employ two novel published mouse models of lung injury and fibrosis (PMID 29920187; PMID 30910861; PMID 30721158). The successful candidate will have access to cutting‑edge technologies including RNA‑seq, single‑cell and ATAC‑RNA‑seq, high‑resolution proteomics, CRISPR‑mediated screens, lineage tracing, organoid assays, and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platforms to identify pathways critical for lung tissue repair and regeneration.

Ideal candidates will hold an M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. and possess a strong background in basic molecular and cell biology, with required experience in mouse models and primary cell culture systems.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, or a related biomedical field
• Solid background in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and cell biology
• Hands‑on experience with animal models, mammalian tissue culture, molecular biology techniques, and tissue imaging procedures
• Excellent record of publications in highly respected international scientific journals
• Familiarity with advanced imaging techniques, transcriptomic profiling, flow cytometry, and/or bioinformatics (desirable)

Application Instructions

• Upload the application through Interfolio using the provided link.
• Email mfbeers@pennmedicine.upenn.edu with the subject line “Postdoctoral Fellow Lung Biology” and attach:
  • Current CV
  • Cover letter