Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Description:

The Postdoctoral Fellow will be mentored by Stephanie Olivier-Van Stichelen, PhD (Faculty website ). Nathan Zwagerman, MD (Faculty Website ), Stephanie Cheok, MD and Adriana Ioachimescu, MD, PhD, FACE (Faculty Website ) will serve as co-mentor for the clinical aspects of the work.

The focus of this post-doctoral work will be to investigate the pathophysiology and molecular factors of tumor behavior of pituitary adenomas, including the role of Nutrient-sensing post-translational modification (O-GlcNAc).

Primary Functions

• Coordinate research study activities: lead and manage projects.
• Plan, design and execute complex research studies, procedures and protocols.
• Prepare media and maintain cells by various culturing techniques.
• Maintain brain tumor tissue banking pipeline to the lab
• Carry out assigned duties for ordering own supplies.
• Record and compile accurate records and communicate summaries of experimental results.
• Assist with the evaluation, interpretation and assessment of experimental data and quality control of assays.
• Participate in meetings with principal investigator and research staff and evaluate/interpret the validity of data as needed.
• Prepare scientific reports, outcome findings and scientific manuscripts. 
• Write grants and post-doctoral fellowships/grants.
• Present in various seminar series and scientific conferences.
• May oversee the work of laboratory personnel including training and development as well as daily work direction, delegation and establishing priorities.

Knowledge – Skills – Abilities

Required knowledge: biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, documentation, records management, data utilization, complex problem solving, critical thinking, resource management, and writing skills. Knowledge in pituitary adenomas, O-GlcNAcylation and glycobiology would be appreciated but are not required.

Skills and abilities: Basic Biochemistry techniques including but not limited to: Western Blot, protein purification and pull down, molecular biology, including RNA, DNA and cloning work, cell culture. Correlation with clinical information from the electronic charts. Mice might be used during the project and mouse colonies handling and management night be asked. Training will be available at the time.

Characteristics of a postdoctoral appointment:

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), a postdoc is an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced research training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue their chosen career path. In addition, according to the National Postdoc Association (NPA), Postdoctoral appointees can pursue basic, clinical or translational projects so long as their primary effort is devoted toward their own scholarship. Postdocs are essential to the scholarly mission of the mentor and host institution, and thus are expected to have the freedom to publish the results of their scholarship.

It is expected that postdocs at MCW, with the assistance of their supervisor, will:

• Transition to career independence through the development of professional skills that enable the postdoc to actively pursue a career of their own choosing.
• Be supervised by at least one senior scholar who actively promotes the postdoc’s professional development.
• Establish an individual development plan (IDP) that incorporates equally the postdoc’s career and training goals and the mentor’s research goals.
• Pursue basic, clinical, or translational projects so long as effort is focused primarily on research.
• Publish results of the postdoc’s research and scholarship during their appointment.
• The postdoctoral appointment is temporary by nature, the aggregate amount of time spent as a postdoc is recommended to not exceed five years (not including family medical leave or parental leave).
• As postdocs are important members of the host institution’s community, appropriate levels of compensation, health care, and other benefits commensurate with their essential status should be afforded, independent of the postdoc’s source of funding.

Preferred Schedule:

Position Requirements:

Specifications

• Minimum Required Education:  PhD in a scientific field
• Minimum Required Experience:  At least 3 years in a research lab pursuing a PhD, successfully defended the PhD and published in relevant scientific literature.
• Preferred Education: PhD in Biochemistry or Biology               
• Field: Biochemistry, neuroendocrinology, pituitary pathophysiology.
• Certification:  None

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

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