Postdoctoral Fellow Position

Multiple postdoctoral positions are available in the laboratory of Dr. Christopher Sturgeon, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York, NY).  Each position is fully funded. As part of the Black Family Stem Cell Institute, we are very interested in the use of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (hESCs and iPSCs), and their directed differentiation towards hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Dr. Sturgeon’s team combines multiple complementary approaches, including hPSC maintance and directed differentiation, genetic mouse models, flow cytometry and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), microscopy, pharmacology, and various omics and biochemical analyses, to study human hematopoietic development, and the translational potential of hPSC-derived hematopoiesis.

The majority of the candidate’s time will be dedicated to research, but a significant amount of time will also be spent assisting in lab organization and maintenance. This position will involve working closely with the PI and other members of the laboratory to conduct experiments and assist in interpreting experimental results using cutting-edge cellular/molecular biology, imaging and sequencing approaches. The successful applicant will also assist with general laboratory maintenance and administrative duties, including animal husbandry, maintenance of mouse colonies, and assisting with cell culture and tissue preparation, histology and microscopy, as needed for specific projects. While prior laboratory experience is preferred, we will provide necessary training in various approaches. To be successful in this position, the candidate must be efficient, flexible and self-motivated, with exceptional organization skills, strong analytical and communication skills, faithful execution of established protocols and systematic troubleshooting of new protocols. This position will provide a strong foundation for candidates looking to gain research experience before pursuing further career development.

We have NIH and philanthropic funding for ongoing projects and need to recruit postdoctoral fellows to perform experiments and direct projects in support of the proposed studies.

Ideal candidates will possess:

• PhD or MD in a life sciences or related field with a solid understanding of general biological principles
• Preferred: previous experience and publication(s) in a basic research laboratory setting (in hematopoiesis/hematology, immunology, developmental biology or stem cell biology)
• Strong motivation and interest in hematopoiesis and stem cell biology and desire to be challenged
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, encompassing both oral and written, with strong attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively independently and as a member of a diverse group of researchers, faculty, students and support staff
• Must be self-motivated, a quick learner, technically adept, reliable, accurate, flexible, efficient, organized and must keep detailed records
• Ability to work under deadlines
• Ability to perform technical procedures, interpret results and recognize irregularities in experimental outcomes
• Excellent attendance and reliability
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills

Duties to be performed may include activities such as:

1) Responsibilities include mouse breeding, genotyping, maintaining numerous mouse strains, contributing to experimental design (blood and tissue collection, injections, anesthesia, husbandry), obtaining protocol approvals, experimentation, data collection and analysis, and documentation of study procedures and results.

2) The candidate will also perform cell culture of pluripotent stem cells, and their directed differentiation.  Differentiation potential will be assessed by flow cytometry, and gene and protein expression.

3) The candidate will perform molecular biology and biochemical analyses (DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, RT-PCR and Western blot).

4) The candidate will contribute to the publication of study outcomes.

5) The candidate will share responsibility in maintaining the laboratory within federal, state and university guidelines for Animal Safety and for Environmental Health and Safety.

6) The candidate will maintain complete and organized records/reports.

7) Possess troubleshooting skills, independent analytical thinking, and research planning skills, and the ability to analyze and interpret data and to communicate data in a clear, concise manner.

8) General lab maintenance and organization, including, but not limited to, restocking, aliquoting, and maintaining an up-to-date inventory of common reagents and supplies; ordering reagents and supplies as needed; maintaining lab equipment in good working order; and interacting with vendors to coordinate new purchases.

9) Computer literacy including the ability to use a variety of software packages to analyze data, such as R, Word, Excel, BLAST, NCBI, PubMed search, RNA-seq analysis.

The results of our studies will provide mechanistic insights into how complex signaling and transcriptional mechanisms regulate hematopoietic development, and will contribute to our understanding of the regenerative medicine and adoptive immunotherapy potential of hPSC-derived hematopoiesis.

Interested applicants should send a current CV to Christopher Sturgeon (christopher.sturgeon@mssm.edu)

The Mount Sinai Health System is an equal opportunity employer. We comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate, exclude, or treat people differently on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.