Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Description:

I seek a highly motivated individual to join my structural biology-focused research group.  My research focuses on the structural determination and dynamic studies of members of the class A GPCR family of proteins; members of this family are vital players in cell signaling and are heavily targeted in drug development.  Using state-of-the-art technologies in X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, combined with biochemical approaches, my group strives to advance our understanding of how a select group of GPCRs function.  By better understanding the biochemical differences between closely related family members, we can employ rational drug design techniques to develop therapeutics with fewer or less debilitating side effects for the patient and their family. 

Purpose

The Structural Biology Initiative at the Medical College of Wisconsin seeks a postdoctoral fellow with experience or interest in structure-based drug discovery research.

Candidates should have a Ph.D. in related biomedical science field. We also seek candidates from broad areas (e.g., biophysics, biochemistry, cell biology, computational biology) with new ideas and interests in structural biology.

Characteristics of a postdoctoral appointment:

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

• Transition to career independence through developing professional skills that enable the postdoc to actively pursue a career of his/her 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 not to exceed five years (not including family medical or maternity/paternity 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.

Primary Functions

• Plan, design and execute complex research studies, procedures and protocols.
• Participate in discovery projects.
• Coordinate research study activities: lead and manage projects.
• Oversee organization, synthesis and analysis of data and findings.
• Prepare scientific reports, outcome findings and scientific manuscripts.
• Participate in meetings with principal investigator and research staff in which you will evaluate/interpret the validity of data, develop methodologies, and design and evaluate lab procedures.
• Maintain supplies, may require negotiation with vendors, and track purchase orders.
• May oversee the work of laboratory personnel including training and development as well as daily work direction, delegation and establishing priorities.

Preferred Schedule:

Position Requirements:

Specifications

• Minimum Required Education:  PhD in a scientific field or MD         
• Field: Biophysics, biochemistry, cell biology, computational biology

Knowledge – Skills – Abilities

• Required knowledge: biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, documentation, records management, data utilization, complex problem solving, critical thinking, resource management, and writing skills
• Skills and abilities: This will vary based on the hiring manager’s preferences and should include things that can be learned or trained for.

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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