Postdoctoral Research Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Post Doctoral Scholar - Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Post Doctoral Scholar - Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at its Detroit campus location.
Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.
Essential functions (job duties):
The purpose of the Postdoctoral Scholar/Fellow positions is to provide individuals, who have recently (within the past 6 years) completed a doctoral degree, with a full-time program of advanced academic preparation and research training under the guidance of a supervising Faculty Mentor. Postdoctoral appointments are temporary by nature and are designed to develop the Postdoctoral Scholar/Fellow as an independent scientist and to enhance their professional skills. Postdoctoral Scholars/Fellows are considered to be in training for future faculty teaching/ research positions or for a position suited to their desired career outcomes and recognized for their dual status as trainees and employees.
Postdoctoral Scholars/Fellows provide leadership in the design and management of research programs. They additionally assist their Faculty Mentor(s) in designing protocols as well as training and/or supervising technical research staff to complete research projects. With the assistance of the Faculty Mentor, postdoctoral scholars/fellows write research grants with the goal of obtaining additional research grants. They conduct independent research that is expected to result in scholarly publications and presentations for research funding at scientific meetings.
The postdoctoral scholars/fellows complete technical laboratory and/or field experimental procedures. They conduct independent research with grant funding they were responsible for obtaining. Postdoctoral scholars /fellows, with permission and supervision of their mentor(s), may also be involved with the training of undergraduate and graduate students in the laboratory, which is another key aspect towards their preparation for future academic and non-academic positions.
Essential Functions:
Perform scientific techniques or research protocols. Assist the Principal Investigator in designing and performing protocols. Design and perform experiments. Collect and log research data. Participate in implementing research objectives, ensuring compliance with all legal, regulatory and protocol guidelines. Assist other lab members with experiments as required. May mentor research assistants and students.
With the assistance of the mentor, find and write research grants with the goal of obtaining additional research grant funding. Responsibilities may also include coordinating correspondence with applicants and grantees, acknowledging receipts of proposals, and maintaining a system to track proposals.
Evaluate and perform preliminary analysis of the data using graphs, charts or tables to highlight the key points of the research results collected in accordance with the research protocols as stipulated.
Prepare and present presentations regarding research project results for professional, scientific and academic conferences. Summarize and organize data results for submittal to academic and scholarly, peer-reviewed journals. Write scientific manuscripts and other documents for publication. Fact-check, proofread, and edit research documents to ensure accuracy.
Maintain the laboratory work areas including routine maintenance on laboratory equipment as required. Order and organize required research supplies and records. Maintain cleanliness and organization of work station.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Unique duties:
Coordinate daily laboratory operations, including ordering, receiving, inventory management, organization of shared laboratory space, equipment maintenance, safety documentation, and development and implementation of standard operating procedures.Conduct hands-on research in reproductive immunology and maternal-fetal immune programming using mammalian cell culture, rodent pregnancy models, infection or immune challenge studies, and related cellular and molecular approaches.Independently manage mouse colonies, including breeding, weaning, genotyping, timed mating, pregnancy staging, animal record maintenance, and coordination of experimental cohorts in compliance with approved animal protocols.Perform animal procedures and tissue collection from pregnant dams, placentas, decidua, fetal tissues, neonatal tissues, and adult offspring immune organs, followed by sample processing and downstream analyses.Perform mammalian cell culture, transfection, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and clone validation, flow cytometry, immune cell isolation, qPCR, ELISA/Luminex, Western blotting, immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry, histology, and related laboratory techniques.Bank, catalog, and organize biological samples; maintain experimental records, animal breeding records, research databases, reagent inventories, and project documentation.Train and support students and junior laboratory members in laboratory procedures, animal work, record keeping, and safety practices; assist the PI with troubleshooting, coordinating laboratory activities, and maintaining efficient project progress.
Qualifications:
Education: Doctorate degree
Requires advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning, predominantly intellectual in character.
This knowledge is acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.
Experience: Intermediate (3 to 4 years job-related experience)
Job related experience can include doctorate training. Experience performing basic research techniques,
preferred. Must have distinguished themselves in research. Prior recipient of funding for research based on individual achievements.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Ability to work independently. Ability to secure grants and funding for research. Ability to collect, analyze, summarize and interpret research findings in reports and communicate results to the field. Knowledge of and experience with current scientific integrity principles. Excellent time management and organization skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with others in a collaborative environment. Microsoft office software skills.
Preferred qualifications:
Master's degree in Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Animal Science, or a closely related biomedical field, with at least three years of relevant laboratory experience.At least three years of hands-on experience in an academic, biomedical, or research laboratory environment.Experience managing mouse colonies, including breeding, weaning, genotyping, record keeping, and coordination of experimental cohorts.Experience with mouse handling, injections, timed mating, pregnancy staging, tissue dissection, and collection of placenta, decidua, fetal, neonatal, or adult offspring tissues.Experience with mammalian cell culture, transfection, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, single-cell clone generation, and validation of genetically modified cells.Experience with flow cytometry, immune cell isolation, tissue processing, qPCR, ELISA/Luminex, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and/or histologic analysis.Experience with laboratory operations, including ordering, inventory management, equipment maintenance, SOP preparation, biosafety compliance, and organization of shared laboratory space.Experience with experimental troubleshooting, data organization, basic statistical analysis, and preparation of figures or research summaries.Experience training, supervising, or supporting students, research assistants, or other junior laboratory personnel.Ability to work independently and take responsibility for both day-to-day laboratory operations and hands-on experimental work.Strong organizational, communication, time-management, and problem-solving skills.Ability to prioritize multiple experiments, animal schedules, laboratory needs, and administrative responsibilities.Ability to independently perform routine mouse colony management, animal procedures, tissue collection, and molecular or cellular laboratory techniques.Knowledge of laboratory safety, biosafety practices, animal welfare requirements, and accurate research record keeping.Proficiency in mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, tissue processing, and related laboratory methods.Ability to maintain accurate inventories, experimental records, biological sample databases, and animal breeding records.Ability to train and support students and junior laboratory members while working collaboratively with the PI and research team.
School/College/Division:
H06 - School of Medicine
Primary department:
H0610 - Obstetrics & Gynecology
Employment type:

• Regular Employee
• Job type: Full Time
• Job category: Research

Funding/salary information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary
• Salary minimum: TBD
• Salary hire maximum: TBD

Working conditions:
Typical work environment may include a laboratory and/or office environment. May require working non-standard business hours including evenings and weekends. May be required to travel to scientific conferences.
Job openings:

• Number of openings: 1

Background check requirements:
University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.