UNIV - Postdoc - Department of Regenerative Medicine

Job Description Summary

The laboratory of Dr. Russell Norris in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to support translational research in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong foundation in molecular biology, genetics, and human translational research who can serve as an essential bridge between our clinical coordinators, nursing staff, and basic research team.

The ideal candidate will play a central role in procurement, processing, and analysis of patient-derived clinical samples and in running molecular and genetic assays to support multiple ongoing clinical and discovery studies.

• Clinical Research Coordination – Essential (30%): Work closely with clinical coordinators, nursing staff, and physician collaborators to facilitate patient enrollment and biospecimen collection. Ensure compliance with IRB protocols, sample tracking, chain of custody, and data linkage between clinical metadata and laboratory assays.
• Molecular and Genetic Analyses – Essential (35%): Design and perform molecular assays on patient-derived samples, including nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR, cDNA synthesis, cloning, and next-generation sequencing library preparation. Contribute to mechanistic studies and functional validation of patient-derived genetic variants using molecular and cellular approaches.
• Mentorship and Team Integration – Essential (15%): Provide training and day‑to‑day guidance to graduate students, interns, and clinical research assistants involved in biospecimen handling and molecular assays. Facilitate communication between the clinical and bench research teams to ensure smooth coordination of workflows.
• Documentation and Quality Control – Essential (10%): Maintain accurate records of sample inventories and experimental results using the Norris Lab’s electronic laboratory notebook systems (Lab Archives and Box). Ensure all samples and datasets are logged for traceability and compliance.
• Publications and Grants – Essential (10%): Contribute to manuscript preparation, data visualization, and presentations at internal and external scientific meetings. Assist in the preparation of research proposals and progress reports for funding agencies and foundations.

PhD/MD or equivalent.

Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work in all cold temperature extremes, i.e. spot coolers. (Frequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist.

(Frequent) Ability to perform 'pinching' operations. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous) Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 15 lbs.,

unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift objects, up to 15 lbs., from floor level to height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lower objects, up to 15 lbs., from height of 72 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/pull objects, up to 15 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift and carry objects up to 15 lbs. a distance of five (5) floors and to outlying buildings.

(Frequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous)…