Postdoctoral Research Associate_Wietecha Lab_Oral Biology

Hiring Department: Oral Biology

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1028590

Posting Close Date: 01/31/2025

Salary: Annual salary of between $61,008-74,088 (NIH NRSA scale), commensurate to years of previous experience as a postdoctoral associate and/or a research scientist.The position is fully supported by the PI’s R35 NIGMS research grant.

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

Benefits eligible positions include a comprehensive benefits package which offers: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability & AD&D insurance; a defined benefit pension plan; paid leaves such as Vacation, Holiday and Sick; tuition waivers for employees and dependents. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

The Position:

The Wietecha Lab at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, Department of Oral Biology is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to grow the lab’s NIH-supported research program. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will perform mentored, independent, inter-disciplinary primary research focused on exploratory and mechanistic investigations of the cellular and molecular parallels between wound healing and chronic disease progression. For more information about the Wietecha Lab, please visit the lab website: https://go.uic.edu/WietechaLab

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Report directly to and be mentored by the Principal Investigator (PI) and collaborate with the PI to develop and carry out an independent research project within the realm of the PI’s research program.
• Design and carry out various experimental and bioinformatics studies of wounds and related chronic conditions using high-throughput methods, including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics.
• Prepare research manuscripts for publication, present original research at scientific conferences, and engage in peer review of manuscripts.
• Mentor and train students at the undergraduate, master’s and PhD level in the research laboratory setting, with possible additional opportunities to engage in teaching activities within the dental and/or graduate curriculum.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects, as assigned.
• Work with the PI to apply for relevant grants and fellowships to support the research of the Postdoctoral Research Associate, such as NIH’s National Research Service Awards (NRSA).
• Work with the PI to develop an individual research career development plan and engage in relevant career development activities.

Job Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have received a doctorate degree (PhD or equivalent) within the last five years.
• Advanced degree should be in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• Proficiency in scientific coding environments such as R, Python and/or MATLAB is required.
• Hands-on experience with biological big data analysis, especially single-cell and/or spatial transcriptomics, is preferred.
• The candidate must demonstrate an academic track record, including a first-author publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
• Must have a demonstrated ability to effectively work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Must have excellent organizational and communication skills, and a strong work ethic.
• Must provide a strong recommendation from a research mentor, a primary thesis mentor, and/or a previous postdoc mentor.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

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