Postdoctoral Fellow, Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry - Virginia Commonwealth University

The Philips Institute for Oral Health Research in the Department ofOral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry is seekinga full-time Postdoctoral Fellow in the Laboratory of Oral & CraniofacialInnovation (LOCI). VCU is ranked among the top 20 institutions nationwide forNational Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) funding, virtually all of which is awarded to Philips Institute members. This position involvesconducting advanced spatial multiomics research on human tissues, cells, andbiofluids, with a strong focus on understanding cancer mechanisms and exploringinnovative treatments. This position offers outstanding benefits and exceptionalpotential for advancement and independence.

Position Responsibilities:

The Postdoctoral at LOCI will be responsible for activelyparticipating in and driving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research projects focused on theintricate mechanisms influencing the proliferation, metastasis, and immuneresponse interactions in head and neck cancers as well as other relatedpathologies. The primary responsibility involves active participation in andleadership of NIH-funded research projects, focusing on the intricatemechanisms of proliferation, metastasis, and immune responses in head and neckcancers, alongside exploring the host-microbiome interface and developing immunotherapeuticapproaches. This position demands a dynamic individual capable of bothcollaborative and independent research initiatives, offering the opportunity tospearhead new investigations and potentially achieve significant professionalgrowth. In addition to research duties, the role encompasses comprehensivelaboratory management tasks including the maintenance of equipment, orderingand managing inventory of necessary research materials, and ensuring thecleanliness of all experimental spaces. The postdoc will also handle essentialsafety responsibilities as the Chemical Hygiene officer, which involvesupdating safety protocols, managing chemical and biological waste disposal incompliance with university and Occupational safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, and maintaining certificationsrequired for the safe handling and shipping of hazardous materials.Furthermore, the postdoc is expected to conduct both animal andlaboratory-based experiments, maintain detailed records of experiments inlaboratory notebooks, present findings at meetings, and prepare scientific datafor publication in manuscripts. This dual aspect of the position ensures thesmooth operation of the laboratory while fostering an environment of advancedscientific inquiry and discovery.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, molecular biology required, or a related field with less than 5 years of any additional postdoctoral experience greater than or equal to 2 years of postdoctoral experience
• A strong background on molecular and cellular biology techniques
• Must be self-motivated, eager to learn and reliable
• Experience with single-cell ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequence and spatial multiomics design, implementation, and analysis
• Willingness to perform animal procedures in an environment characterized by a strong commitment to the humane treatment of animals
• Ability to work well independently and as a part of a team
• Willingness to mentor junior laboratory personnel
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proven track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals. Attention to detail in experimental techniques and record keeping is critical
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as an employee at VCU

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience in cancer cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis experiments
• Experience in laboratory mouse breeding, genotyping, syngeneic animal models
• Advanced knowledge in computational biology or bioinformatics, particularly related to spatial data analysis
• Demonstrated ability to secure research funding
• Experience in leading collaborative research projects and teams
• Technical proficiency in RNA-seq, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), or other genomic editing and profiling technologies

ORP Eligible: Yes 

Salary Range: $58,656 - $62,000

Position Details:

Department: School of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology
Employment Type: PD - Post Doc
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Dung Pham

Contact Email: dpham3@vcu.edu

Contact Phone: