AGILE Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow

University of North Carolina, United States

Updated: about 1 year ago
Location: Chapel Hill, NORTH CAROLINA
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: ; ;

Posting Information
Posting Details


Department Institute Convergent Science - 624500
Posting Open Date 10/07/2022
Application Deadline
Open Until Filled Yes
Position Type Postdoctoral Scholar
Position Title AGILE Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow
Vacancy ID PDS003614
Full-time/Part-time Full-Time Temporary
Hours per week 40
FTE 1
Work Location Chapel Hill, NC
Position Location North Carolina, US
Hiring Range $65,000
Proposed Start Date 10/31/2022
Estimated Duration of Appointment 12 Months

Position Information


Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) seeks to expand the scale and scope of its impact on society by translating discovery into solutions through invention, innovation, and enterprise. To accomplish these goals, the university will develop and mobilize new teams of researchers, designers, experts, and entrepreneurs and provide the support and infrastructure needed to help these teams succeed. UNC seeks to foster a comprehensive innovation ecosystem that embraces the whole institution and its external partners, and that provides information, services, and resources to faculty entrepreneurs in a systematic way along the arc of discovery-invention to technology-transition.
The UNC Institute for Convergent Science (ICS) is a key component of that ecosystem. Using a three-lane innovation framework articulated as ‘Ready, Set, Go,’ ICS supports the journey from innovative idea to transformational product, technology, or solution through a problem-centered approach that draws together innovators from diverse disciplines to address real-world issues. Located in Carolina’s premier science research facility, the UNC Genome Sciences Building, ICS brings the best commercialization processes to the $1.15 billion UNC research enterprise.
Position Summary
The Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is a signature component of the UNC Institute for Convergent Science (ICS) in which fellows work with teams of researchers and innovators to transition their research to applied goals. ICS Innovation Fellows bridge the scientific/technical elements of an ICS project with team science and commercialization support activities.
This ICS Innovation Fellowship position will focus on translational research for novel neural technologies to record and stimulate human brain organoids. The postdoc fellow will be co-advised by Dr. Wubin Bai and Dr. Jason Stein. Technical skills that will be acquired through this fellowship range from organoid differentiation, microfabrication, device assembly and integration, data acquisition, and device packaging. This project is funded by a two-year ICS AGILE (Advance Great Inventions or Leave Early) award.
The Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow will devote ~70% effort to the scientific project (the scientific and technical elements plus related commercialization support), under the supervision of the project PIs, and ~30% effort toward supporting and contributing to other projects within the ICS under the supervision of the ICS Associate Director. Projects included in this 30% effort category may include performing customer discovery, market research and patent landscaping; providing project management support for other ICS teams; developing and coordinating ICS events and workshops; and supporting proposal development projects. Because this is the first position of its kind, the fellow selected for this position is invited to help shape and define the role. There is flexibility to tailor the experience to the career goals of the fellow, depending on availability of suitable projects/initiatives.
This fellowship offers unique training in translational science while also developing commercialization and project leadership skills. Fellows are also encouraged to participate in existing experiential training programs including UNC Venture Catalyst Program and I-Corps program. Fellows will have access to UNC CareerWell courses (including Market Research, Team Collaboration, Technology Commercialization Fundamentals, Applied Project Management) offered by The Graduate School. The work location for this position is adjacent to the KickStart Accelerator, where the fellow will have access to mentoring from KickStart Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and its advisory network. The fellow is invited to participate in KickStart events and workshops.
The Bai lab focuses on the development of new technology that can intelligently immerse electronics and photonics into biological systems, and the creation of new tools and devices to address unmet clinical needs and improve human healthcare. The Stein lab focuses on understanding how genetic variation affects brain structure and development using human stem cell model systems. The two labs have been working together for over 1 year and are pursuing a project together to develop novel neural technologies to record and stimulate human brain organoids.
The fellowship is initially a one-year assignment, with possible extension to two years if the ICS-funded AGILE project meets its milestones.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
A Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, materials engineering, biology, or neuroscience, or related discipline.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
Demonstrated record of creativity, research productivity, organization/project management skills, and strong communication skills required. The successful candidate will be a team player who is adaptable, flexible, eager to learn new skills, and interested in research translation/commercialization.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
Preferred expertise includes materials fabrication, mammalian cell culture, neuronal recording, though we are eager to teach desired skills necessary for the project.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
Special Instructions
For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here
Work Schedule:Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm. Evenings and weekends as needed
This is a one year appointment with the possibility of an additional one-year extension.
Quick Link https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/241922

Posting Contact Information


Department Contact Name and Title Rachel Prasek
Department Contact Telephone or Email [email protected]
Postdoctoral Affairs Contact Information
If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity office at (919) 966-3576 or send an email to [email protected].
Please note: The Equal Employment Opportunity office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

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