Postdoctoral Associate - DRI

The Postdoctoral Associate performs scientific research and studies under the supervision of managing staff. Moreover, the Postdoctoral Associate promotes institutional recognition through literal contributions to the scientific community.

• Conducts research on specific areas of study as assigned.
• Prepares research reports and technical papers for publishing.
• Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories.
• Maintains substantial knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories.
• Develops advanced analytical models and systems and provides solutions and analyses to support strategic and tactical decisions.
• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

Education:

Doctorate degree in relevant field required

Experience:

No previous experience required

Certification and Licensing:
Refer to department description for applicable certification requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Learning Agility:
  Ability to learn new procedures, technologies, and protocols, and adapt to changing priorities and work demands.
• Teamwork:
  Ability to work collaboratively with others and contribute to a team environment.
• Technical Proficiency:
  Skilled in using office software, technology, and relevant computer applications.
• Communication:
  Strong and clear written and verbal communication skills for interacting with colleagues and stakeholders.

The expectation for a postdoc is a high degree of in dependency in executing, designing and improving experimental protocols.

• Routine duties to do completely independently:
  Read and interpret technical data sheets for laboratory products, reagents, and materials.
• Adhere strictly to safety guidelines when handling laboratory products and reagents.
• Comply with EH&S and UM safety policies, including proper laboratory waste management.
• Operate routine laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, shakers, water baths, balances, and inverted microscopes.
• Prepare buffers and standard laboratory reagents as needed.
• Operate advanced instrumentation, including flow cytometers, confocal microscopes, slide scanners, and other specialized imaging systems.
• Participate in training for new techniques and instrumentation as required, with the expectation of rapidly achieving technical proficiency and progressing to independent operation in a timely manner.
• Conduct research independently to continuously improve lab methodology. Proactively utilize available institutional and online resources to expand technical expertise and improve laboratory practices.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Independently execute routine and complex laboratory protocols and experiments. Training can be received if appropriate.
• Analyze routine and complex experimental data as appropriate.
• Capacity to independently conduct cell culture, flow cytometry, imaging studies in human tissue, using best laboratory practices in its performance. Training will be provided as required.
• Ability to develop and follow protocols without deviations.
• Be able to develop, optimize and implement protocols using new procedures and new technologies if needed.
• In dependency to conduct literature reviews of topics of interest for the lab.
• In dependency at writing papers and preparing abstracts and presentations to share results with scientific community.
• Assistance with figure creation, analysis and topic review in the context of grant writing.
• Regularly present results and discuss findings at laboratory meetings and in 1:1 meetings as required.
• Ability to operate computers and software relevant for the lab activities (i.e., from standard computer software such as Power point and Excel, to complex image analysis software and flow cytometry analysis software). Training is provided for specialized software, with the expectation of rapidly achieving technical proficiency and progressing to independent operation in a timely manner.
• Demonstrate strong planning and organizational skills.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with supervisors and colleagues.
• Capacity to train students in routine / less complex experiments as required.
• Maintain accurate and complete laboratory records, including…