Postdoctoral Research Associate, NanoBioscience & Medicine (Phoenix)

The Center for Applied Nanobiocience and Medicine (ANBM) at the College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, is opening a Postdoctoral Research Associate position for an accomplished and motivated candidate. Funding is secured by a U01 NIAID award with a period of performance up to 5 years. ANBM is actively developing a point of care biodosimetry platforms using a vertical flow assay combining protein and nucleic acid multiplex markers panels and an integrated sample preparation module. To enable this technology development, ANBM is composed of a highly multidisciplinary research team with biologists, chemists, physicists, electrical and mechanical engineers, and work closely with clinicians.

The candidate should have experience performing research in a laboratory setting and should have authored peer-reviewed research publications. AThe candidate must have previous experience in molecular diagnostics, especially developing devices related to vertical flow immunoassays. (VFI). Experience in liquid nanoprinting of VFI membranes and design of experiments algorithms to simulate accelerated shelf-life testing is required. Applicants should be detail-oriented, conscientious, able to work independently as well as in a team under direction of the principal investigator, and have the ability to communicate in a clear, concise manner orally and in writing.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

• Perform independent multi-disciplinary research experiments under the direction of the principal investigators, Dr. Lacombe and Dr. Zenhausern.
• Design protocol, prepare and maintain nanoliquid printing equipment for performing reagents deposition onto VFI membranes.
• Apply DOE statistical techniques for designing accelerated shelf-life studies.
• Develop, design, and conduct complex research projects.
• Perform scientific data collections, reductions, and analyses involving routine procedures characterized by use of independent judgment.
• Foster collaborations within the Department and with other units across the University.
• Conduct research in the field of molecular diagnostics, which includes vertical flow assay techniques, microfluidic device designs, prototyping and testing. Provide engineering team with biological specifications for prototyping. Contribute to private and public research grants writing and applications.
• Identify technological improvements and addition of application-based functionalities of current platforms, and propose creative and novel solutions by developing hypotheses, designing experimental plans for testing, carrying out experiments, and analyzing results.
• Design, implement, conduct, and analyze biological experiments to assess the potential of the new iteration(s) of the VFI platform for targeted biodosimetry purposes.
• Present results at laboratory meetings and conferences.
• Keep track of the current literature in radiobiology, biodosimetry, vertical flow assays and related fields and write comprehensive review and experimental papers in top tier journals.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Participate in grant writing, including generating preliminary data, submitting grant applications, and preparing progress reports.
• Develop and implement protocols as dictated by experimental results.
• May assist with supervision of laboratory staff and students.
• Oversee maintenance of hazardous/chemical waste records and disposal as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of coordinating experiments, and completing analysis, statistics, and interpretation. A strong team player.
• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise manner orally and in writing.
• Ability to participate at scientific conferences and present findings.
• Knowledge of grant writing and manuscript preparation.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop reports and manuscripts and present findings in tabular, oral, written, and/or graphic formats.

• PhD degree in clinical translational sciences, radiobiology or related field of study.

• Experience with computational fluid dynamics.
• Experience with vertical flow assay technologies, including design, characterization, and validation.
• Experience in cell biology, preferably in gene expression and proteomic assays.
• Experience in ex-vivo testing, preferably with biological fluids, and cell characterization (microscopic imaging, flow cytometry, and gene/protein expression and other omics tools).
Literacy in statistical and/or computational data analysis, Design of Experiment principles and software (JMP) or AI/ML is a plus.

• Demonstration of problem-solving skills and capability to overcome complex issues.

College of Medicine-Phoenix, Office of Human Resources

HR-PHX@arizona.edu