Postdoctoral position in immunotherapy of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver cancer

The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition is in the Department of Medicine within the Medical School at the University of Minnesota. The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition provides an array of clinical services, educational programs, and active clinical and basic science research activities. In addition to the faculty who are part of Division at the University campus, there are also University faculty who participate in GI research and training activities at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Hennepin County Medical Center, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and Regions Hospital.

The Division plays a leading and integral role in hepatology and liver transplantation, hosting one of the longest standing liver transplant programs in the United States. The Division is home to a nationally-recognized division for ERCP, EUS, and management of complex pancreas/biliary disorders. Historically, the Division has made a number of seminal contributions in the fields of hepatology and nutrition, and generates important knowledge in our understanding of liver metabolism. More recently, the Division has contributed to the understanding of the role of pancreaticobiliary endoscopy in the management of a number of clinical conditions, including malignant hilar biliary obstruction, complications of ERCP, endoscopic therapy of pancreatic diseases, and of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include participating in the design, implementation and evaluation of collaborative research studies; analyzing and interpreting data; creating publication quality figures summarizing data; assisting with manuscript and grant preparation; maintaining a legible and self-explanatory scientific notebook, and presenting results during lab meetings and at appropriate scientific conferences. Above all, your major duties will be to conduct bench research as deemed necessary and appropriate by Dr. Song and to assist and/or collaborate with other research staff on scientific pursuits of mutual interests.

Research Direction, Working Environment and Benefits

The PI's lab mainly focus on the basic and translational research of liver cancer and metabolic diseases. In addition to basic research, we have made groundbreaking progress in developing miRNA-based immunotherapeutic approaches for liver cancer and NAFLD/NASH. The purpose of the lab is to educate the next generation of research scientists. In addition to teaching basic experimental techniques, PI is eager to develop the ability of postdoctoral fellows and graduates to write manuscripts, apply for grants, and strongly commit this education.

All the projects that the postdoctoral fellows will focus on are well developed. The key phenotypic experiments have been done. The potential to publish in high tier journals is high. The promotion chance for postdoctoral fellows with solid publications is high in the Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. The PI is committed to provide as much as help and strong recommendation.

Required qualifications:

Ph.D.; or MD required
Less than three years of post-graduate research experience in the fields of liver cancer, immunology, metabolic diseases, microRNA, and RNA drug delivery
At least one first-author publication in a top-tier journal.

Preferred qualifications:
Skills in molecular biology, cellular biology, basic bioinformatics, and mouse models required, which includes hydrodynamic injection, hepatocyte isolation, DNA and RNA isolation, western blot, northern blot, southern blot, real-time RT-PCR, luciferase assay, florescence microscopy, immunostaining, mouse mating, small animal surgery, and primer design.
Strong motivation and fast learning ability

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

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The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.