Postdoctoral Fellow - Department of Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University Research Corporation is currently accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow.

About the Opportunity

The position will support Dr. Lisa Holland and her research group conducting experiments in the field of capillary electrophoresis separations, enzyme-based analyses, fluorescence detection absorbance detection and mass spectrometry. Independently uses professional concepts and organizational policies to solve a wide range of moderate to complex problems in imaginative and practical ways.

Capillary electrophoresis analyses will be conducted on biologically relevant molecules to correlate protein and ligand sialylation with enzyme and receptor interactions. The research requires capillary electrophoresis and microfluidic electrophoresis method development and application of optical and mass spectrometry detectors.

At WVU Research Corporation, we strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU Research Corporation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a variety of options to suit your needs:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• Paid Time off (PTO)
• 403(b) retirement savings with a fully vested 3% employee contribution match, (Employees have the option of contributing an additional 1-3% of their earnings to the plan, which is also matched by the WVURC)
• A range of health insurance and other benefits
• Dependent Education Scholarship
• WVU Perks

What You'll Do

• The incumbent is expected to perform and achieve experimental results consistent with degree training. This includes several skill sets such as the design and implement independent laboratory and field experiment activities according to protocol, maintaining detailed logs of work-related activities, including accurate laboratory records and data on research methods, procedures, and results. Work effort often addresses non-routine matters within established protocol, guidelines, and/or policies. These experiments must be conducted in compliance with research protocols and safety requirements.
• The incumbent will perform independent experimental data analysis and draw sound scientific conclusions from these experiments.
• The incumbent must write and present research/study status reports for review and use of the Principal Investigator.
• The incumbent is to apprise Dr. Holland of his/her/their research progress frequently through formal group meeting held weekly and to participate in informal sub-group meetings (held 3-5 times per week), receiving and providing feedback about research involving other researchers working under Dr. Holland's supervision.
• The incumbent must effectively communicate and defend experimental findings, data interpretation, conclusions, and significance and prepare results of experimental findings for presentation to colleagues and the sponsor; at professional/technical conferences; and/or for publication in scientific journals, as directed.
• The incumbent is expected to draw sound scientific conclusions from these experiments and assist in the preparation and publication of no less than two manuscripts annually in refereed scientific journals.
• The incumbent will search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for research goals and in addition will read scientific literature, attend workshops and research conferences and to keep abreast of technological advances and current research findings.
• The incumbent will oversee research facilities maintaining lab equipment; keeping accurate inventory of lab assets; monitoring and assuring the proper use and conditions of lab equipment.
• The incumbent is expected to assist as needed in the supervision of graduate and undergraduate students who are part of Dr. Holland's group and work with collaborators from West Virginia University and other external institutions, including National Laboratories. External collaborations may require travel outside of the Morgantown area for 1-14 days at a time.
• The incumbent will assist with acquisition of funding from public, private, and governmental sources, including assistance with development of novel research proposals for sponsor submission.
• The incumbent will assist with data management and sharing compliance for NIH funded activities in the Holland lab, including but not limited to data checking, presentation, formatting, preservation, internal archiving, and uploading data to repositories.
• The incumbent is expected to complete an Individual Development Plan (an assessment tool designed to help develop and monitor professional goals unique to the incumbent's career development) within 3 months of starting, and to update this annually.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience in Analytical Chemistry.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to design and implement independent laboratory and field experiment activities according to protocol.
• Ability to perform independent experimental data analysis.
• Ability to draw sound scientific conclusions from these experiments.
• Ability to effectively communicate and defend experimental findings, data interpretation, conclusions, and significance.
• Ability to prepare results of experimental findings for presentation to colleagues and the sponsor; at professional/technical conferences; and/or, for publication in scientific journals, as directed.
• Ability to publish no less than two first author research manuscripts annually in peer-reviewed scientific journals relevant to the applications in the Holland Lab.
• Ability to search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for research goals.
• Ability to read scientific literature, attend workshops and research conferences and to keep abreast of technological advances and current research findings.
• Ability to identify and assist with acquisition of funding from public, private, and governmental sources, including assistance with development of novel research proposals for sponsor submission.
• Ability to maintain detailed logs of work-related activities, including accurate laboratory records and data on research methods, procedures, and results.
• Ability to ensure compliance with research protocols and safety requirements.
• Ability to write and present research/study status reports for review and use of the Principal Investigator.
• Ability to maintain accountability for laboratory results and progress.
• Ability to oversee research facilities, maintaining lab equipment; inventory of lab assets; monitor and assure proper use and conditions of lab equipment and personnel as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the following:
  
  
  
  • Electrophoresis (microfluidic or capillary).
  • Mass Spectrometry.
  • Enzyme characterization (KM measurements).
  
  
  
  

The WVURC was created as a not-for-profit corporation in 1985 to support research (R1) at West Virginia University. We provide evaluation, development, patenting, management, and marketing services for inventions of the faculty, staff and students of the University.

The WVURC receives and administers funds awarded by external agencies for research and other activities and is responsible for helping protect intellectual property through patents, copyrights and licensing agreements for start-up companies based on University research.

West Virginia University Research Corporation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We value diversity among its employees and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.