Postdoctoral Fellow - Congenital Heart Disease Research

Position Description:

Every day, in ways both big and small, the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is impacting lives for the better. MCW … changemaking for a healthier Wisconsin. In the role of  Postdoctoral Fellow you will beworking in Pediatrics.  

Purpose

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), a postdoc is an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced research training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue his or her chosen career path. In addition, according to the National Postdoc Association (NPA), Postdoctoral appointees can pursue basic, clinical or translational projects so long as their primary effort is devoted toward their own scholarship. Postdocs are essential to the scholarly mission of the mentor and host institution, and thus are expected to have the freedom to publish the results of their scholarship.

Under the supervision of the lab PI, Dr. John LaDisa, and in consultation with clinical collaborators, this Two-Year Postdoctoral Fellow appointment will be responsible for performing engineering-based research applicable to cardiovascular disease as part of an extramurally funded project. The successful applicant will investigate the contribution of local hemodynamic disturbances and mechanical stimuli developing after stent implantation for congenital heart diseases to the likelihood of restenosis. This work will involve experimental models of disease, processing of medical image data, creation of idealized and subject-specific computational models, and/or implementation of a computational growth and remodeling framework.

Characteristics of a postdoctoral appointment:

It is expected that postdocs at MCW, with the assistance of their supervisor, will:

• Transition to career independence through the development of professional skills that enable the postdoc to actively pursue a career of his/her own choosing.
• Be supervised by at least one senior scholar who actively promotes the postdoc's professional development.
• Establish an individual development plan (IDP) that incorporates equally the postdoc's career and training goals and the mentor's research goals.
• Pursue basic, clinical, or translational projects so long as effort is focused primarily on research.
• Publish results of the postdoc's research and scholarship during their appointment.
• The postdoctoral appointment is temporary by nature, the aggregate amount of time spent as a postdoc is recommended to not exceed five years (not including family medical leave or maternity/paternity leave).
• As postdocs are important members of the host institution's community, appropriate levels of compensation, health care, and other benefits commensurate with their essential status should be afforded, independent of the postdoc's source of funding.

Primary Functions

• Plan, design and execute complex research studies, procedures, and protocols with PI guidance.
• Conduct research studies in accordance with institutional approvals and laboratory safety protocols.
• Accurately collect and enter research data into specified programs or databases.
• Participate in the statistical analysis and interpretation of research findings.
• Prepare typewritten scientific writings and presentations related to research findings for local or national meetings and assist in the creation and submission of manuscripts for peer reviewed publication.
• Manage a program timeline to ensure successful completion of tasks.
• Prepare scientific reports, outcome findings and scientific manuscripts. 
• Participate in meetings with principal investigator and research staff in which you will evaluate/interpret the validity of data, develop methodologies, and design and evaluate lab procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge – Skills – Abilities
Required knowledge: biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, documentation, records management, data utilization, complex problem solving, critical thinking, resource management, and writing skills.

Skills and abilities: Strong sense of initiative and ability to complete tasks requiring independent judgement as well as function successfully in an environment that promotes teamwork and collaboration. Demonstrate excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal, and organizational skills. Proficiency with computer aided design and computational modeling software packages (i.e. SolidWorks, Ansys, Abaqus, Fluent, SimVascular, etc). Sufficient knowledge of program study area.

Preferred Schedule:
Full-time role with expectations for coverage during core business hours and flexibility required as necessary to accommodate clinical needs.

Position Requirements:

Specifications

Minimum Required Education: PhD in a scientific field or MD in the preferred educational discipline.

Minimum Required Experience: None

Preferred Education: Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline

Preferred Experience: Two or more years of related experience and a track-record of research dissemination through peer-reviewed journal publications.

Certification: CITI training within 5 days of hire.

Why MCW?

• Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental. Along with Flexible Spending options
• 403B Retirement Package
• Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Pet Insurance
• On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes.
• Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc. 

For a full list of positions see: www.mcw.edu/careers  

For a brief overview of our benefits see: https://www.mcw.edu/departments/human-resources/benefits

Eastern Wisconsin is a vibrant, diverse metropolitan area.  MCW is intent on attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce and faculty body that reflects the community we serve. We value diversity of backgrounds, experience, thought, and perspectives to advance excellence in science and medicine.  MCW is a welcoming campus community with a strong culture of collaboration, partnership, and engagement with our surrounding community. For more information, please visit our institutional website at https://www.mcw.edu/departments/office-of-diversity-and-inclusion . 

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

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