Postdoctoral Research Scientist (Clinical Genetics)

The Oppurtunity

This opportunity to join the Department of Pediatrics at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at the rank of Postdoctoral Research Scientist is an exciting one. Columbia University Irving Medical Center, one of the nation's foremost academic health science centers. The Department of Pediatrics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center is the top in comparison with other pediatrics department in the NY region in NIH research funding.

The primary responsibility of this role is the characterization and validation of chemical compounds identified from throughput screens ongoing for a group of genetic disorders known as lysosomal storage diseases affecting the central nervous system (e.g. metachromatic leukodystrophy and Krabbe disease). The Postdoctoral Research Scientist will work on examining analogs synthesized from "hits" from two innovative cell-based and biochemical assays, using imaging and tandem mass spectrometry approaches. The successful candidate will have completed a PhD and/or MD and have experience in the following areas:

Key Responsibilities

• Basic molecular biology techniques include but are not limited to, molecular cloning, transfection, infection, RNA isolation, and Northern blotting.
• Perform and develop lipids and sphingolipids extraction methods from diverse matrices, with the goal of identifying novel surrogate disease markers through tandem mass spectrometry.
• Perform animal (mouse) experimentation, including general husbandry care, organization of murine colonies, breeding, neurobehavioral assessments with specific instrumentation, surgeries, periodic small molecule administration at different routes, general health assessments, postmortem perfusion, organ/tissue dissection, and other animal procedures.
• Perform tissue cryosection and immunofluorescence staining procedures for confocal microscopy and MALDI-TOF and electron microscopy studies.
• Familiar with concepts of parametric and non-parametric statistics, GraphPad, Excel, PubChem, PDB, ImageJ, AxoSeg, Volocity, and ZEN 2009 edition.
• Present and write peer-review articles and progress reports and prepare presentations as oral or poster in scientific meetings.
• Perform tasks related to the Research laboratory, including but not limited to the procurement and order of reagents and supplies, organizing storage, supervising and training laboratory members on research procedures and assays, and maintenance of laboratory equipment.

Commitment of Diversity

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and Educator. The University is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment, and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.

Columbia University welcomes applications from individuals who may have had nontraditional career paths, or who may have taken time off for family reasons (e.g. children, caring for disabled or elderly family), or who have achieved excellence in careers outside of academia (e.g., in professional or industry service). The University is responsive to the needs of dual career couples and is committed to supporting the work-life balance of its faculty. We are interested in candidates who have a record of success advising and mentoring individuals from groups underrepresented in higher education and is particularly interested in candidates who have research interests in subjects that will contribute to the understanding of diversity and equal opportunity.

• Must have a doctorate degree (M.D. or Ph.D.)
• Consistently strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and sustain effective working relationships with professionals in other disciplines.
• The ability to create a high-energy results-oriented work environment that encourages colleagues and staff to value each other's contributions.
• The ability to share and celebrate success with colleagues and staff.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.