Postdoctoral Fellow - Sickle Cell Diseases Clinical Research Laboratory - Bioinformatics Focus

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.  

Postdoctoral Fellow

A post-doctoral position is available immediately in the Brandow laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The research in this laboratory focuses on individuals with sickle cell disease and improving our understanding of pain, both the causes of pain and how pain impacts a patient’s health and wellbeing. The laboratory is currently working on developing a biomarker for pain that can be used to determine the impact of new therapies and predict pain episodes. Using a novel technique, we hope to use the signature of a patient’s inflammatory/immune regulation for this biomarker.

We are interested in an individual with a background in clinical bioinformatics with experience in assimilation and analyses of omics data to enhance our work in this area of scientific discovery. A background in immunology and/or molecular biology is a plus. Further, the ability to write and publish manuscripts is vital to this role. Individuals with experience or background in these areas or related areas are encouraged to apply.

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.

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.
• Participate in discovery projects.
• Coordinate research study activities; lead and manage projects.
• Oversee organization, synthesis and analysis of data and findings.
• Prepare scientific reports, outcome findings and scientific manuscripts. 
• Participate in meetings with principle investigator and research staff in which you will evaluate/interpret the validity of data, develop methodologies, and design and evaluate lab procedures.
• Maintain supplies, may require negotiation with vendors, and track purchase orders.
• May oversee the work of laboratory personnel including training and development as well as daily work direction, delegation and establishing priorities.
• 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: Clinical research experience, assimilation and analyses of big data, gene expression data, transcriptomics data, bioinformatics, computational biology, biostatistics, use of clinical statistical software, and ability to write manuscripts.

Preferred Schedule:
60% onsite / 40% virtual, full-time role with expectations for coverage during core business hours with flexibility to accommodate business needs.

Position Requirements:

Specifications

Minimum Required Education: PhD in a scientific field or MD

Minimum Required Experience: None

Preferred Education: PhD in Molecular Biology, Immunology, or related field

Preferred Experience: Molecular biology, immunology, bioinformatics of transcriptomics analysis, basic science/bench lab experience.

Field: Molecular biology, immunology, or related field

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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