Postdoctoral Research Associate – Musculoskeletal Biology

About the role

The Biomedical Engineering Department at Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate – Musculoskeletal Biology in the laboratory of Henry J. Donahue, Ph.D. The lab investigates, using both in vitro and in vivo models, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which musculoskeletal tissues adapt to the mechanical environment, the role of genetic variability in this process, and the effect of metabolic disease on this process. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline and possess strong interest in musculoskeletal biology. The College of Engineering at VCU, established in 1996, encompasses five departments and serves over 2,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate students, fostering a collegial, highly collaborative environment for research and life sciences. For inquiries, contact Emily Perrault at perraultek@vcu.edu.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research using in vitro and in vivo models to study how musculoskeletal tissues adapt to mechanical loading.
• Examine the influence of genetic variability on tissue adaptation.
• Investigate the impact of metabolic disease on musculoskeletal tissue responses.
• Apply techniques in cell and molecular biology, in vitro and in vivo imaging (especially microCT), transgenic animal models, and bioinformatics.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Strong interest in musculoskeletal biology.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience working with in vitro and/or in vivo models of skeletal biology.
• Demonstrated experience fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with diverse faculty, staff, and students, or a commitment to do so as a postdoc at VCU.

Qualifications

• Experience with microCT.
• Experience breeding and working with mice.
• Experience in bioinformatics.

Benefits

• VCU postdocs are Virginia state employees, with benefits mirroring those of 12‑month faculty.
• VCU adheres closely to the National Postdoctoral Association’s guidelines for best practices in postdoc training.
• VCU works with the local NPA chapter, the VCU Postdoc Association, to create a welcoming and productive training environment.
• All VCU employee types are eligible for a wide array of benefits; consult the benefits website for eligibility details according to employee type.
• FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt.

Pay

Salary for these post‑doctoral positions is set at the NIH scale, specifically $63,480 per year.