Postdoctoral Research Associate - College of Engineering - Department of Mechanical Engineering

About the Role

Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Mechanical Engineering is searching for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join their team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in an interesting and challenging work environment. You will contribute to the department by focusing on the interface between engineered mammalian cells and implantable device environments, including studies of cell adaptation, longevity, functional stability, optical readout compatibility, and integrated system behavior. This role will emphasize assessment of engineered cells in configurations relevant to device integration. The postdoctoral associate will design and execute experiments to understand how engineered cells perform over time in controlled in vitro settings, biomaterial-supported culture environments, and prototype device-relevant configurations. The position requires a technically mature researcher who can work across cell biology, biomaterials, device testing, quantitative imaging, and experimental systems engineering.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead cell-device integration experiments supporting project milestones.
• Develop test plans for evaluating engineered cells under implant-relevant in vitro conditions.
• Collaborate with cell-engineering, device, optics, tissue-engineering, and systems-integration teams.
• Establish reproducible protocols for longitudinal culture, functional testing, and data collection.
• Analyze optical, biological, and device-performance datasets using appropriate statistical and computational methods.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks, SOPs, QC records, and milestone documentation.
• Prepare presentations, technical reports, manuscripts, and sponsor-facing materials.
• Mentor junior researchers and coordinate day-to-day experimental activities with technicians and students.
• Identify integration risks and develop fallback experimental strategies.
• Adapt engineered therapeutic and sensing cells to implant-relevant materials, compartments, matrices, and culture configurations.
• Evaluate long-term cell viability, proliferation, stability, reporter output, and functional response under controlled conditions.
• Design and operate in vitro platforms to assess cell performance over extended periods.
• Study how device-relevant factors, such as optical access, material interfaces, culture geometry, nutrient/oxygen availability, and repeated stimulation or measurement cycles, affect engineered-cell function.
• Support testing of cell systems in prototype device configurations.
• Develop quantitative readouts for cell longevity, functional retention, signal stability, and system compatibility.
• Coordinate with collaborators to compare CMU-based device-relevant results with external benchmarks.
• Generate integrated datasets that support milestone decisions, design iterations, and downstream validation planning.
• Perform other project-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Bioengineering, Cell Biology, Tissue Engineering, Synthetic Biology, or a closely related field. 3-5 years of experience.

Skills and Preferred Experience

• Demonstrated ability to design and execute experiments involving mammalian cells, biomaterials or device-relevant culture systems, quantitative imaging or fluorescence assays, and longitudinal data collection.
• Experience with hydrogel culture, ECM-based systems, microfabricated devices, implantable-device prototypes, perfusion or microfluidic systems, or long-term in vitro functionality testing is strongly preferred.
• Preferred training includes: BSL-2 training, biosafety training, chemical hygiene training, human/animal-subjects compliance training if later required by assigned studies.
• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous retirement savings program with employer contributions.
• Tuition benefits.
• Ample paid time off and observed holidays.
• Life and accidental death and disability insurance.
• Free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass.
• Access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs.
• Fitness center access.