Postdoctoral Fellow or Associate Staff Scientist (Peters) Liver Fibrosis

Primary Location: Location T | Department: Gastroenterology | Shift: Day (United States of America) | Schedule: Full time | Weekly Hours: 40 | FTE: 1 | Employee Status: Regular

About the Role

Alexander Miethke’s Lab has an immediate opening for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow or Associate Staff Scientist in the Division of Gastroenterology to study mechanisms driving immune mediated liver injury, bile duct damage and liver fibrosis in pediatric autoimmune liver disease. Dr. Miethke’s research focuses on discovering immune pathways controlling hepatobiliary injury in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in order to ultimately develop novel therapies (lab website). The laboratory uses established mouse models for sclerosing cholangitis, and several knockout and transgenic mice to discern disease mechanisms in pre-clinical models and works closely with the Center for Autoimmune Liver Disease (center website). Dr. Miethke collaborates with Dr. Wang, computational biologist in the division (Wang lab) and with Dr. Peters who studies mechanisms of liver allograft rejection and tolerance (Peters lab).

The specific goals for the successful applicant are:

• Refine iPSC-derived cellular co-culture and multicellular organoid systems to recapitulate liver tissue single-cell RNAseq predictions on cellular cross talks driving liver cell injury and biliary fibrosis in PSC and AIH.
• Develop animal models of large duct PSC.
• Prepare high quality single cell and single nuclear preparations from cryopreserved liver (allograft) tissue samples for single cell RNA/ATAC seq.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD or equivalent in biomedical research. Experience in basic molecular techniques including gene expression quantification (RT-PCR), protein analysis (ELISA, Western), immunohistochemistry, high parameter flow cytometry, cell-culture techniques with iPSC-derived and transformed cell lines, and established procedures for mouse model systems are required. Candidates with a strong background in bioinformatics, and mouse/human immunology are encouraged to apply. Experience with analysis of RNAseq data and multi-parameter flow cytometry is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Research/Lab Administration: Plans, directs and executes scientific research and laboratory experiments. Investigates the feasibility of applying a variety of scientific principles and concepts to solve problems. Works on complex problems in which analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of various factors, applying broad knowledge of principles, theories and standard scientific/research protocols. Uses professional concepts in accordance with objectives to solve complex problems in creative and effective ways. Exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Responsible for lab administration (IRB/IACCUC/biosafety). May oversee divisional or institutional core facilities, managing and/or providing training for instrumentation. Research and improve current methods and evaluate innovative techniques. Design and perform experiments and record data according to research protocol. Independently reproduce, evaluate, research, and improve techniques currently used. Adapt new methods to existing procedures and modify current experiments through scientific knowledge and intuition.
• Research Standards: Maintain accurate and detailed records of all laboratory work and experiments. Develop, set-up and verify new procedures in the laboratory. Standardize and establish new published procedures; evaluate innovative techniques. Develop new assays and new protocols; design formats. Discuss relevant insights about experimental results with Director and provide useful recommendations and analysis. Troubleshoot and correct erroneous results or problems with laboratory equipment. Maintain and repair equipment; monitor proper use by personnel. Maintain optimal protocol and assay accuracy by conducting regular quality and reproducibility checks. Demonstrate performance at work, consistency in carrying out instructions, accuracy & attention to detail, achieving expected results & continuous improvement.
• Publish: A researcher of this distinction demonstrates continued productivity and has multiple publications (minimum 10), this is not a threshold but an example of the numerous publications that a conversation can begin to be considered for the role; impact on papers matter. Draft, write and edit scientific reports, papers, journal articles and abstracts. Present at local, national and international scientific meetings. Assists PI to review papers for journals. Has written multiple Co-authorships, or a first author or co-senior author paper.
• Leadership: Provides guidance to junior lab members and trainees, serves as the contact for resolution of complex issues, provide education, guidance and work direction. May supervise junior staff. May provide input and feedback to managers on hiring decisions, professional development and performance management. Leads research programs or research teams within a lab and serve as leaders of divisional cores. May act as spokesperson on research. and assist in determining methods and procedures on new assignments. Participates in teaching, lectures and lab class. Advises PI and other stakeholders as needed.
• Financial Responsibility/Contribution to Grants: Contribute to grant writing and applications. Assist in preparing, writing and maintaining fiscal budget. Monitor expenditures and prepare capital expenditure requests. Prepare, approve and initiate check requests; track funding, maintain accurate balance and resolve any discrepancies.
• Teamwork: Train and supervise the work of other laboratory personnel as appropriate. Maintain an integral role in the laboratory's meetings, presentations and publications. Present information on research and laboratory work to others at laboratory meetings, journal clubs and seminars. Demonstrate attendance and punctuality, ability to work independently & display initiative and dedication. Demonstrated success in technical proficiency, scientific creativity, collaboration with others and independent thought. Productivity as measured by continued Authorship on papers (i.e., lab, field of research and paper impact) first authorship is weighted more heavily. Increased contribution to grants. Increased responsibility in division and lab management, leadership within the lab, divisional responsibility. Makes important contributions to scientific literature and conferences.

Qualifications

• PhD or MD
• 7+ years (after PhD or MD) or