Post Doctoral Fellow

Possesses, understands, and applies a comprehensive knowledge in area of specialization. Develops understanding and skills to allow for completion of assignments that cross fields of specialization. Develops leadership and management skills.

EEO/AA

Job Summary:          

There is an opening for a postdoc position in the Coulson- Thomas laboratory at the College of Optometry, University of Houston, to work on dry eye disease, with special focus on studying the pathogenesis of Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The candidate should have significant animal training and be able to work with knock-out mouse models. The candidate should have experience carrying out surgeries in mice. In the Coulson- Thomas lab, each investigator is responsible for maintaining the mouse colonies involved in their own studies in order to ensure the highest standards are maintained, including animal identification, minimal husbandry and genotyping. Tissue processing skills are required including cryo- and paraffin sectioning. The candidate will also be required to isolate and maintain primary cells and established immortalized cell lines.  The candidate is expected to have proficient communication skills, have excellent English skills, written and spoken, and have the ability to work together as a team and also alone.

Responsibilities are completed under the supervision of the Principal Investigator.

Physical Demands:  

This is a fast-pace lab that requires researchers to be highly organized, efficient and work as a team.

Work Environment: 

The College of Optometry, University of Houston, provides a fertile environment for blending fundamental Glycobiology with medical and translational opportunities. The post is available immediately for a period of 1 year, which can be renewed for an additional 2 years based on performance and funding availability. The candidate must have flexible hours and be available no less than 40 hours a week Monday-Friday. The candidate is expected to work 8:30 am-5:00 pm or 9:00 am-5:30 pm with a 30-minute lunch break, although working hours are flexible.

Doctoral and No experience

Requires singular knowledge of a specialized advanced professional discipline or the highest level of general business knowledge, normally acquired through attainment of a directly job-related terminal degree or equivalent formal training in a recognized field of specialization that is directly related to the type of work being performed.No experience is required.

Minimum Qualifications:    

PhD or MD-PhD with strong experience working with animals, strong first author publications and the ability to work in a team and think independently. The candidate is also expected to be able to establish and maintain successful interactions/collaborations. Communication skills and fluent spoken and written English are key.

Preferred Qualifications for Selection:

- Comfortable with performing animal surgeries.

- Experience with working with animals including maintaining colonies. Of special interest is experience with transgenic mouse models.

- Proficiency in histology and cell culture techniques.

- Skills to follow animal research protocols and stay within compliance of IACUC guidelines.

- Basic Cell and Molecular biology skills, including: PCR, gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, RNA isolation, protein isolation, glycosaminoglycan isolation, immunocyto/histochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and CRISPR technology.