PostDoc Fellow - NIH DARPA Chou Lab

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A Brief Overview
Under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator), assumes responsibility for a specific, on-going research project. The experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden his/her scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that this individual will conduct independent scholarly research, and will contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group.

This role will be expected to participate in project planning, recording and interpretation/evaluation of data, and communication of results. This position will also be expected to acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. This role also may be required to supervise junior lab members, develop new methods and protocols for research, and assist with the development of other research projects in the lab.

About the Laboratory

The postdoctoral fellow (postdoc) will have a terminal degree PhD, MD, DVM, etc. and will, under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator), assume responsibility for a specific, on-going research project. The position is in the laboratory of Dr. Stella Chou, a Principal Investigator in the Hematology Research Division. Her research focuses on pediatric blood diseases, mechanisms of normal and pathologic hematopoietic development, and the study of vitro generation of red blood cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for transfusion medicine.

The postdoc experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden his/her scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that this individual will conduct independent scholarly research, and will contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group. Postdocs will be expected to participate in project planning, recording and interpretation/evaluation of data, and communication of results. Postdocs will also be expected to acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. Postdoctoral fellows also may be required to supervise junior lab members, develop new methods and protocols for research, and assist with the development of other research projects in the lab.

Research foci include:

1. Study and enhance in vitro generation of red blood cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for transfusion medicine

2. Use customized pluripotent stem cells with rare blood cell phenotypes to optimize their use as red cell reagents that would improve antibody identification in transfused patients with sickle cell disease.

3. Identifying novel methods to expand pluripotent stem cell derived hematopoietic progenitors or improve red cell maturation that would facilitate use of iPSC-derived red cells for therapeutic purposes.

4. Adaption of next generation sequencing technology to improve red cell matching and prevent alloimmunization in patients with sickle cell disease.

5. Use CRISPR/Cas9 technology in pluripotent stem cells to manipulate specific genes that may enhance red blood cell proliferation, maturation, and enucleation.

The Chou laboratory is looking for candidates with a general molecular biology background and tissue culture experience. A background in hematopoiesis and/or experience with CRISPR technology or human primary, ESC, or iPSC culture would be a plus

What you will do

• Conduct independent scholarly research and develop new methods and protocols
• Participate in project planning, recording and evaluation of data
• Acquire technical, lab management and grant writing skills
• Participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentation at national meetings
• Supervise junior lab members
• Assist with other research projects

Education Qualifications

• Doctorate Required

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to wear a respirator device

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SALARY RANGE:

Salary ranges are shown for full-time jobs. If you're working part-time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

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