Postdoctoral fellowship in organ cryopreservation for transplantation

University of Minnesota Division of Solid Organ Transplantation (Erik Finger, MD/PhD) and University of Minnesota Bioheat and Mass Transfer Laboratory (John Bischof, PhD)

About the Job

Transplantation, regenerative medicine, and cell-based therapies are rapidly developing areas of research that offer great potential for improving human health. However, one of the greatest barriers to translation is the inability to apply these therapies when and where they are needed. Ex vivo biological systems have a limited shelf-life. Donor transplant organs and tissues only remain viable for hours. Engineered cells and tissues can be cultured, but typically with great effort, cost, and limited ability to transport prior to treatment. The objective of our research is to develop methodologies for cryopreservation, or "banking," of cells and tissues for transplantation and regenerative medicine. The labs of University of Minnesota (UMN) Professors Erik Finger (Surgery) and John Bischof (Mechanical Engineering) through the UMN Organ and Tissue Preservation Center and NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio), are looking for a motivated surgical postdoc to contribute towards making this a reality.

In recent publications, we have shown the ability to cryopreserve kidneys for up to 100 days while preserving full organ function in a transplant model (Han and Sushil Rao et al., Nature Communication, Accepted 2023). We have also shown the ability to cryopreserve pancreatic islets for 9 months and use them to cure diabetes (Zhan and Sushil Rao et al., Nature Medicine, 2022). Our technology platforms enable cryopreservation and rewarming of cells, tissues, and organs of differing sizes and geometries. We plan to continue developing these approaches for clinical translation over the next several years through grant support from three NIH R01s, the NSF ERC ATP-Bio, and additional foundation awards. Areas of interest include kidneys; livers and hepatic cells and tissues; pancreatic islets; reproductive organs; hearts and cardiac systems; and many other developing cryopreservation applications. This highly collaborative and multidisciplinary effort provides extensive training, networking, and mentorship opportunities for clinical, tenure, or industry-track careers. Collaborators through ATP-Bio include Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, UC Berkeley, and others.

This position will lead the biological aspects of projects focused on kidney cryopreservation for transplantation. Responsibilities include microsurgical procedures; ex vivo organ perfusion; biological assessments; documenting and maintaining protocols; data analysis and summaries; and paper writing. Initial work will focus on rodent models but will transition to larger animal models. The position will have core project responsibilities but contribute across multiple related research projects. Opportunities for contributions and leading proposals exist.

Duties/responsibilities:
30% - Preclinical animal surgical procedures
40% - Ex vivo organ perfusion and biological assessments
10% - SOPs, data summaries, and reporting
10% - General lab maintenance (cleaning, ordering, waste removal, forms/organization).
10% - Meetings

Required qualifications include:
- MD, PhD, or MD/PhD with microsurgical experience (or extensive other surgical experience)
- Strong communication skills
- Desire to work as a member of a highly collaborative team

Preferred qualifications may include:
- Performing biological characterization and assessments
- Microscopy (including confocal microscopy)
- Ex vivo organ perfusion
- Preclinical animal surgeries (rodent and large animal)
- Cell and tissue culture
- Rodent animal care (including blood draws)
- Clinical imaging
- Cryopreservation protocols and characterization
- Data processing and statistical analysis
- Presenting technical and scientific data
- Maintaining and organizing lab space
- Paper and proposal writing

To learn more about the Department of Surgery, please visit:

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you'll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Please visit the for more information regarding benefits.

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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.