Research Associate, Research Scientist

Research Associate

A postdoctoral position in microfluidics and neutrophil biology is immediately available in the laboratory of David Schmidtke in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Texas  area of focus in the Schmidtke Laboratory is in the fabrication and utilization of novel microfluidic devices to study platelet and neutrophil biology. For this position the research associate will focus on following project:
The goals of this proposal are to (i) determine biomarkers that associate with elevated risks of infections in ventricular assist device (VAD) patients; (ii) develop novel microfluidic devices that allow for leukocyte functional assays; and (iii) determine whether treatment of neutrophils from VAD patients with specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) can restore their antibacterial fighting and immunosuppressive capacities. This project will involve (i) measuring changes in leukocyte phenotypes by flow cytometry, (ii) measuring changes in leukocyte rolling velocities in microfluidic devices, (iii) measuring changes in leukocyte function via phagocytosis assays, chemotaxis assays, oxidative burst assays.

The project will involve the use different sample types (a) whole blood; (b) isolated leukocyte subtypes; and © mixtures of leukocyte subtypes (e.g. neutrophils and monocytes).

Minimum Education and Experience
- Ph.D in a related field. Candidates who have successfully completed all requirements for the Ph.D. but whose degree has not yet been formally conferred may be eligible to begin employment provided they submit an official letter from the Registrar or Graduate School of the degree-granting institution certifying that all doctoral requirements have been satisfied and specifying the expected date of conferral.

Appointment and continued employment are contingent upon formal conferral of the Ph.D.

Preferred

Education and Experience
- Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in bioengineering, biomedical engineering or chemical engineering. Candidates should have experience in most of the following areas: microfluidics, fabricating and characterizing protein micropatterns, fluid mechanics, leukocyte biology, leukocyte adhesion assays, leukocyte chemotaxis assays, biochemical assays (i.e. ELISAs), blood cell separation, image analysis, flow cytometry, photolithography, and optical microscopy.

Other Qualifications
- To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Fabrication of microfluidic devices and protein micropatterns, photolithography, performing ELISAs to measure the concentration of various proteins, measuring protein/receptor expression levels on leukocytes using flow cytometry, measuring leukocyte adhesion using various microscopy techniques (i.e. differential interference contrast, fluorescence, interference reflection microscopy) and image analysis, isolating leukocyte subtypes from whole blood, materials and supply ordering. The candidate will be expected to write manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, present his/her research at national/international conferences, and aid in proposal writing.

The candidate will be expected to work with graduate and undergraduate students and thus they should have good communication and teamwork skills. In addition to the normal research at UT-Southwestern lab space, when needed, the candidate will be required to perform research in shared space at UT-Dallas.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Physical Activities

Working Conditions

Additional Information
- The research will be performed in Dr. Schmidtke's laboratory located in the TI- BMES building on the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center campus. A remote work schedule is not available for this position.

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