Research postdoctoral Fellow - Eosinophilic Esophagitis

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A Brief Overview
Under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator), assumes responsibility for a specific, on-going research project. The experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden his/her scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that this individual will conduct independent scholarly research, and will contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group.

This role will be expected to participate in project planning, recording and interpretation/evaluation of data, and communication of results. This position will also be expected to acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. This role also may be required to supervise junior lab members, develop new methods and protocols for research, and assist with the development of other research projects in the lab.

About the Laboratory

The Ruffner Laboratory is seeking an outstanding and highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an NIH R01-funded research program investigating fundamental mechanisms that drive eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Our research addresses a fundamental and largely unexplored question: how do inflammatory cytokine signals become durably encoded within the esophageal epithelium, and how does this contribute to persistent tissue dysfunction in EoE?

The successful candidate will investigate how interactions between type 2 and type 1 cytokine signaling pathways shape epithelial cell responses, durable chromatin remodeling, and impaired epithelial barrier function in EoE. This work seeks to define mechanisms by which transient inflammatory signals are translated into persistent changes in epithelial state and function, with the potential to reveal new mechanisms underlying chronic mucosal inflammation.

We are seeking an innovative, intellectually curious scientist who is excited by mechanistic biology and eager to develop scientific independence. The fellow will have substantial opportunity to develop hypotheses, design and lead experiments, pursue complementary research questions, publish findings, present at national and international meetings, and contribute to future grant development. Research will draw on complementary approaches in cell biology, immunology, molecular biology, and in vivo models, with opportunities to incorporate transcriptomic and epigenomic approaches.

The Ruffner Laboratory provides a collaborative environment in which postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to take ownership of their projects while benefiting from interactions with a multidisciplinary team of investigators and trainees. The position is particularly well suited to a scientist seeking to build expertise at the intersection of immune signaling, epithelial biology, and chromatin regulation.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable:

*Flow cytometry, including sample preparation, acquisition, and analysis.

*Animal models of inflammation, allergy, or epithelial disease.

*Primary epithelial cell culture, organoid systems, or air-liquid interface tissue culture models.

*Mucosal immunology, allergic inflammation, eosinophilic disease, or epithelial biology.

*Cytokine/JAK-STAT signaling or inflammatory signaling pathways.

*Chromatin remodeling, epigenetic regulation, transcriptional regulation, and/or genomic approaches, including familiarity with next-generation sequencing and data analysis

What you will do

• Conduct independent scholarly research and develop new methods and protocols
• Participate in project planning, recording and evaluation of data
• Acquire technical, lab management and grant writing skills
• Participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentation at national meetings
• Supervise junior lab members
• Assist with other research projects

Education Qualifications

• Doctorate Required

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to wear a respirator device

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SALARY RANGE:

Salary ranges are shown for full-time jobs. If you're working part-time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

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