Research Postdoc Fellow

SHIFT:

Seeking Breakthrough Makers

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers countless ways to change lives. Our diverse community of more than 20,000 Breakthrough Makers will inspire you to pursue passions, develop expertise, and drive innovation.

At CHOP, your experience is valued; your voice is heard; and your contributions make a difference for patients and families. Join us as we build on our promise to advance pediatric care-and your career.

CHOP's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

A Brief Overview
Will, under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator), assume responsibility for a specific, on-going research project. The postdoc experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden his/her scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that this individual will conduct independent scholarly research, and will contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group. Postdocs will be expected to participate in project planning, recording and interpretation/evaluation of data, and communication of results. Postdocs will also be expected to acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. Postdoctoral fellows also may be required to supervise junior lab members, develop new methods and protocols for research, and assist with the development of other research projects in the lab.

About the laboratory

A postdoctoral position is available for studying mechanisms of mammalian skeletal development, metabolism and repair at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The lab seeks to elucidate the molecular characteristics and fate determination of mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells in bone, and to understand the role of cellular and systemic metabolism in skeletal health and diseases. The experimental techniques include transcriptomic or epigenomic profiling by high-throughput sequencing, metabolomics, cell and molecular biology and mouse genetics. The researcher will have access to first-rate core facilities both at CHOP and University of Pennsylvania, and enjoy interactions with experts in the fields of skeletal biology and metabolism at both institutions. An ideal candidate should have PhD or equivalent research experience in cell, molecular or developmental biology with a strong motivation for musculoskeletal research.

Current research topics include the following.
-Skeletal stem and progenitor cells: The adult mammalian skeleton is built, maintained and repaired by stem and progenitor cells but the identity, location, and control of those cells remain incompletely understood. Ongoing projects aim to track and manipulate those cells genetically in both homeostasis and fracture repair in mice.

-Metabo-epigenetic regulation of skeletal cell differentiation: Mounting evidence supports the role of metabolic reprogramming in supporting skeletal cell differentiation, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. We are interested in exploring the connections between metabolite changes and epigenetic modifications that may affect cell identity genes.

-Bone metabolism in diabetes: Both juvenile and adult diabetes are associated with increased bone fractures. Current studies are uncovering the cellular and molecular basis for the bone frailty in diabetic mouse models, with the goal of discovering new therapeutic targets.

-Skeletal aging: Bone loss and increased fracture risks are commonly associated with aging. Current projects are exploring the connection between changes in cellular metabolism and skeletal health during aging.

Additional information is available on websites:

https://www.research.chop.edu/long-laboratory

https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p9165367

https://www.research.chop.edu/skeletal-health-and-diseases/members

What you will do

• Conduct independent scholarly research and develop new methods and protocols
• Participate in project planning, recording and evaluation of data
• Acquire technical, lab management and grant writing skills
• Participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentation at national meetings
• Supervise junior lab members
• Assist with other research projects

Education Qualifications

• Doctorate Required

To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient facing responsibilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive an annual influenza vaccine. Learn more.

Employees may request exemptions for valid religious and medical reasons. Start dates may be delayed until candidates are immunized or exemption requests are reviewed.

EEO / VEVRAA Federal Contractor | Tobacco Statement