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Do you envision finding a meaningful role with an inclusive and compassionate team? At Children’s Mercy, we believe in making a difference in the lives of all children and shining a light of hope to the patients and families we serve. Our employees make the difference, which is why we have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top pediatric hospital, for eleven consecutive years.

Children’s Mercy is in the heart of Kansas City – a metro abounding in cultural experiences, vibrant communities and thriving businesses. This is where our patients and families live, work and play. This is a community that has embraced our hospital and we strive to say thanks by giving back. As a leader in children’s health, we engage in meaningful programs and partnerships throughout the region so that we can improve the lives of children beyond the walls of our hospital.

Overview

The postdoctoral research fellow will conduct high quality research in basic and translational science under the mentorship of Dr Dolores Lamb-https://researchers.childrensmercy.org/display/1132276

This newly funded NIH project seeks to identify the causes of the most severe form of human male infertility, non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), where there is spermatogenic failure resulting in an ejaculate with no sperm. Yet, there is a poor understanding of the mechanisms regulating sperm production and the genetic, genomic or epigenetic defects that underlie NOA beyond structural and numerical chromosomal defects, a few endocrinopathies and gene defects. NOA men have an increased risk of serious diseases, such as cancer, when compared with fertile men or men with sperm in their ejaculates. However, the link between their infertility and their increased disease risk has remained elusive. This project will build on the intriguing data obtained to date showing the presence of deficiencies of mismatch repair (MMR) and/or MSH5 expression from gene mutation or epigenetic variant is present in NOA men resulting in an abnormal cellular response to alkylating agent DNA damage, genomic instability and a deficiency of mismatch or double-strand break repair suggesting the presence of DNA repair defects. MMR or MSH5 deficiency can cause these cellular responses and is associated with malignancies (testis, hematologic, colon, prostate, breast, thyroid) and infertility due to ovarian and spermatogenic failure.

We will test the hypothesis that the decreased mismatch repair and/or MSH5 expression in a subset of infertile men leads not only to decreased genetic stability, impaired DNA break, and defective homologous recombination, but also leads to malignancies and NOA. We hypothesize that mismatch repair and/or MSH5 deficiency is a common link between infertility and the increased risk of malignancies in infertile men with NOA.

This project will requires performing DNA and RNA isolation, bisulfite clonal sequencing to define and quantify CpGs with hyper- or hypo-methylation comparing results for fertile men and men with spermatogenic failure. DNAs from white blood cells and/ortesticular fibroblasts will be sequenced and analyzed. The studies also require working with human testicular biopsies to create primary cultures of fibroblasts for functional studies of DNA mismatch and double-strand break repair. These results will be correlated with the National Cancer Registry studies of cancer risk in men with spermatogenic failure to help define the causes of their infertility, as well as their risk of an early cancer diagnosis.

At Children’s Mercy, we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels welcomed within our walls. A successful candidate for this position will join us as we strive to create a workplace that reflects the community we serve, as well as our core values of kindness, curiosity, inclusion, team and integrity.

Additionally, it’s important to us that we remain transparent with all potential job candidates. Because we value the safety of the patients and families we serve, as well as the Children’s Mercy staff, we want to let you know that the seasonal influenza vaccine is a condition of employment for all employees in our organization. New employees must be willing to be vaccinated if found non-immune to measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and chicken pox (varicella) and/or without evidence of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination since 2005. If you are selected for this position, you will be asked to supply your immunization records as proof of vaccination. If you and have any concerns about receiving these vaccines, medical and/or religious exemptions can be further discussed with Human Resources.

Responsibilities

-Conducting original laboratory research in the general areas of biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, genomics, epigenetics, cell culture on the causes of male reproductive deficiencies and development of malignancies at early ages.

How work is completed: Develop hypotheses and design and carry out laboratory experiments using a variety of research techniques to test those hypotheses under the supervision of his or her research mentors. Also, seek to obtain independent career development NIH grant funding.

-Analysis of research data

How work is completed: Organize data systematically in SciNote using appropriate databases, spreadsheets, charts and graphs and use appropriate statistical and other analytical methods to analyze data, summarize findings, draw conclusions from experiments, and come up with future directions.

- Reporting of research results

How work is completed: Present research results at lab meetings and division meetings. Compete for trainee awards and honors at conferences. Present at regional and national scientific conferences, publications of abstracts, and publication of research articles in peer-reviewed journals.

- Attending/participating in mandatory educational programs, section meetings, scholarly conference and professor rounds

- Attending/participating in mandatory educational programs, section meetings, scholarly conference and

professor rounds

How work is completed: Engagement of all aspects of research in the laboratory, through scientific reading and discussions and creative thinking.

Weekly meetings with Dr. Lamb (more frequent if needed)Fulfill mandatory education requirements by personal attendance or online trainingRegular participation at Lab and Section meetingsWeekly attendance in Professor Rounds and/or scholarly conference in CMH

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or MD in a relevant discipline and 1-2 years experience

Benefits at Children's Mercy

The benefits plans at Children’s Mercy are one of many reasons we are recognized as one of the best places to work in Kansas City. Our plans are designed to meet the changing needs of our employees and their families.

Learn more about Children’s Mercy benefits.

Starting Pay

Our pay ranges are market competitive. The pay range for this job begins at $28.39/hr, but your offer will be determined based on your education and experience.

Remote Work/Work from Home

This position is not eligible to work remotely, which means that the person hired will be required to work onsite at one of our Children’s Mercy locations and may not work from home.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Vet

Children’s Mercy hires individuals based on their job skills, expertise and ability to maintain professional relationships with fellow employees, patients, parents and visitors. A personal interview, formal education and training, previous work experience, references and a criminal background investigation all are factors used to select the best candidates. The hospital does not discriminate against prospective or current employees based on the race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, creed, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry or veteran status. A drug screen will be performed upon hire. Children’s Mercy is smoke and tobacco free.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

CM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our patients and families come from all walks of life, and so do we. We know that our greatest strengths come from the people who make up our team so we hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger and our patient care more compassionate.

If you share our values and our enthusiasm for service, you will find a home at CM. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring, including education, ideas, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, languages spoken, veteran status, color, religion, disability and beliefs.