Postdoctoral Researcher

Position Description:

Position Description:

Consistent with the best practices and environment for professional development (please see updated MCW Postdoctoral Researcher Handbook that took effect July 1, 2024) the Sorci-Thomas Laboratory at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is seeking a postdoctoral fellow (0-1/2 years) with firm commitments for competitive salaries and career opportunities to launch his/her trajectory journey in basic scientific research.

Supported by a new RO1 from the NIDDK, the increased prevalence of obesity in the US population continues to drive greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Excessive caloric intake stresses adipocytes into storing lipid in an unhealthy manner, directing lipid into existing adipocytes, known as adipocyte hypertrophy. On the other hand, healthy adipose tissue expansion and remodeling occurs when adipose tissue precursor cells (PC) in the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) differentiate to create new pre-adipocytes which store lipid, called hyperplasia. Single cell sequencing of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) reported in 2018 have identified two main types of PCs in the SVF, one called adipocyte precursor cells (APCs), while the other is a fibroinflammatory adipocyte progenitors (FAPs). As their names implies APC are pre-adipocytes which given the proper signals, differentiate into mature adipocytes, while FAPs, can secrete cytokines inhibiting APC differentiation and initiating inflammation. Also influencing APC and FAP lineage in the SVF are the transforming growth factor beta (TGFb)-like signaling pathways which inhibit adipogenesis, while bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-like signaling promotes adipogenesis. Recently we discovered that both VAT PCs, APCs and FAPs express high levels of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, procollagen endopeptidase enhancer protein 2 (Pcpe2, gene name Pcolce2) whose expression decreases as APCs become committed adipocytes. We found that Pcpe2 is significantly upregulated (>2-4-fold by both TGFb1, and/or HFD feeding) suggesting that Pcpe2 may play a role in TGFb-like signaling pathways in VAT PCs. We are looking for a creative post doctoral fellow who will assist in studying how Pcpe2 expression impacts TGFb /BMP-like signaling pathways within VAT PCs during HFD induced adipose tissue expansion and remodeling. As a former Chair of the Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Council of the American Heart Association and co-director of an NHLBI T32 Training program in Signature Transdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences based at MCW's Cardiovascular Center, I invite you to send inquiries to Mary Sorci-Thomas, PhD FAHA, Professor of Medicine and Secondary Appointment in Pharmacology and Toxicology:msthomas@mcw.edu.

Purpose

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), a postdoc is an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced research training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue his or her chosen career path. In addition, according to the National Postdoc Association (NPA), Postdoctoral appointees can pursue basic, clinical or translational projects so long as their primary effort is devoted toward their own scholarship. Postdocs are essential to the scholarly mission of the mentor and host institution, and thus are expected to have the freedom to publish the results of their scholarship.

Characteristics of a postdoctoral appointment:

It is expected that postdocs at MCW, with the assistance of their supervisor, will:

• Transition to career independence through the development of professional skills that enable the postdoc to actively pursue a career of his/her own choosing.
• Be supervised by at least one senior scholar who actively promotes the postdoc's professional development.
• Establish an individual development plan (IDP) that incorporates equally the postdoc's career and training goals and the mentor's research goals.
• Pursue basic, clinical, or translational projects so long as effort is focused primarily on research.
• Publish results of the postdoc's research and scholarship during their appointment.
• The postdoctoral appointment is temporary by nature, the aggregate amount of time spent as a postdoc is recommended to not exceed five years (not including family medical leave or maternity/paternity leave).
• As postdocs are important members of the host institution's community, appropriate levels of compensation, health care, and other benefits commensurate with their essential status should be afforded, independent of the postdoc's source of funding.

Primary Functions

• Plan, design and execute complex research studies, procedures and protocols.
• Participate in discovery projects.
• Coordinate research study activities; lead and manage projects.
• Oversee organization, synthesis and analysis of data and findings.
• Prepare scientific reports, outcome findings and scientific manuscripts.
• Participate in meetings with principle investigator and research staff in which you will evaluate/interpret the validity of data, develop methodologies, and design and evaluate lab procedures.
• Maintain supplies, may require negotiation with vendors, and track purchase orders.
• May oversee the work of laboratory personnel including training and development as well as daily work direction, delegation and establishing priorities.

Preferred Schedule:



Full-time role with expectations for coverage during core business hours and flexibility required as necessary to accommodate business needs.

Position Requirements:

Knowledge - Skills - Abilities

Required knowledge: biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, documentation, records management, data utilization, complex problem solving, critical thinking, resource management, and writing skills

Skills and abilities: This will vary based on the hiring manager's preferences and should include things that can be learned or trained for.

Specifications

Minimum Required Education:

• PhD in a scientific field or MD

Preferred Experience:

• Tissue culture experience. Counting and cryopreservation of mammalian and primary cell lines
• Familiarity with histology and microscopy
• Familiarity with genetic mouse models, mouse handling, breeding, genotyping and tissue dissection.
• Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access and GraphPad Prism

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination


The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

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