Postdoctoral Research Associate - Asthma and Lung Disease Biology - National Jewish Health

The Seibold Laboratory is seeking a passionate and highly-motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our cutting-edge, NIH-funded research team. Our laboratory brings together an interdisciplinary group of experts in wet lab cell biology, airway and molecular biology, alongside dry lab computational biology, bioinformatics, and statistical genetics. Our research focuses on unraveling the complex pathobiological mechanisms underlying asthma and allergic diseases. The goal of our work is to identify and characterize pathobiological subtypes (i.e. endotypes) of airway disease, and to determine the genetic, environmental, and immunological factors that drive disease development, progression, and treatment response.

We have an exciting postdoctoral position available for a researcher to lead and conduct innovative studies on the role, function, and signaling of circulating and airway tissue-recruited neutrophils in severe asthma. Specifically, the successful candidate will:

• Molecularly and functionally characterize circulating and airway tissue neutrophils from patients with severe asthma, using scRNA-seq, network analyses, spatial transcriptomics, and ex vivo functional assays.
• Establish epithelial-neutrophil co-culture systems to study neutrophilic mechanisms of airway remodeling.
• Collaborate with our bioinformatics team to integrate in vivo, ex vivo, model system, and clinical phenotypic data, allowing the identification and mechanistic description of neutrophilic subtypes of severe asthma.

We are looking for candidates with a Ph.D. or strong background cell or airway biology, molecular biology, immunology, and/or computational biology. Laboratory skills in the areas of human primary tissue culture, immune cell phenotyping, scRNA-seq, and other genomic/genetic characterization techniques is highly desired. The ideal applicant will possess critical thinking skills, a strong ability to interpret and analyze complex data, and the capability to clearly communicate findings. A commitment to collaboration is essential, as the role involves working closely with both internal teams and external research collaborators, with regular participation in project-focused meetings.

This is an on-site, full-time position offering a unique opportunity to contribute to high-impact research in lung disease biology. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter along with their application.

Join us in advancing the understanding of asthma pathobiology and making strides toward novel therapeutic approaches.

Position Summary
To perform, on a very independent basis, all phases of experimental investigations and to collaborate with Principal Investigators and senior researchers in the progress of major research projects. To act as technical advisor to laboratory technical, support and auxiliary staff.

Essential Duties

1. Performs, on a very independent basis, all phases of experimental investigations, to include being responsible to the Principal Investigator in the planning, developing, operating, recording, collaborating and reporting of major projects.
2. Collaborates with Principal Investigators and senior researchers in the progress of major research projects.
3. Provides guidance to laboratory staff in one or more laboratory areas, including technicians, support and auxiliary staff. Performs as the technical advisor on techniques involving complex analyses utilizing highly sophisticated techniques. Serves as primary contact with researcher staff for technical services on major techniques, recording devices and statistical procedures relative to the specifically assigned field.
4. Reviews quality control of new or modified laboratory techniques which affect any part of major projects.
5. Performs routine and non-routine tests leading to the successful completion of developed experiments. Knows and follows age-specific guidelines.

Other Duties

1. Performs as a back-up to staff absences and vacancies, as necessary.

Competencies

1. Accountability: Accepts full responsibility for self and contribution as a team member; displays honesty and truthfulness; confronts problems quickly; displays a strong commitment to organizational success and inspires others to commit to goals; demonstrates a commitment to National Jewish Health.
2. Laboratory Knowledge: Demonstrates and understands laboratory testing and methodology.
3. Decision Quality: Makes good decisions based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement. Sought out by others for advice and solutions.
4. Adaptability: Maintains effectiveness in the midst of change in work responsibilities or environment, requirements ambiguity, or stress.
5. Problem Solving: Uses issue identification, data relation and comparison, pattern recognition and information gathering to create analyses and make recommendations.
6. Informing/Communicating: Conveys ideas, responses, or instructions effectively, appropriately, and persuasively through writing or speech.
7. Professional Relationships: Interacts with others in a constructive, positive, and respectful manner, regardless of individual differences. Assists team members or co-workers in achieving personal goals and completing assignments.
8. Drive for Excellence: Consistently meets performance expectations, ensures that accurate, objective, and timely measures of quality are made and used.
9. Innovation Management: Identifies key trends, opportunities, and organizational capabilities that would bring competitive advantage to the organization. Sees trends before others and integrates concepts in a unique way.

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility
None

Travel
None

Core Values

1. Be available to work as scheduled and report to work on time.
2. Be willing to accept supervision and work well with others.
3. Be well groomed, appropriately for your role and wear ID Badge visibly.
4. Be in compliance with all departmental and institutional policies, the Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct and completes NetLearning by due date annually.
5. Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the institution.
6. Adheres to safe working practices and at all times follows all institutional and departmental safety policies and procedures.
7. Wears appropriate PPE as outlined by the infection control policies and procedures.
8. Demonstrates compliance with all state, federal and all other regulatory agency requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Education: MD or PhD in biology, chemistry or other basic sciences required.
2. Work Experience: A minimum of five years of specified experience in technical investigatory techniques required. MD or PhD in a specified basic science field will suffice for 2 years experience.
3. Special Training, Certification or Licensure: None

Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000