Postdoctoral Fellow

The Research Fellow will conduct independent and collaborative research in the laboratory of Dr. Afroditi Petsakou investigating the cellular, molecular, and bioelectric mechanisms that regulate intestinal regeneration and injury-induced tumorigenesis. The laboratory uses complementary experimental systems, including genetically tractable Drosophila models and mammalian intestinal organoids, to uncover fundamental principles of tissue repair and determine their conservation and relevance to mammalian biology.

The Research Fellow will contribute to projects examining how bioelectric signaling and neuro–gut communication coordinate intestinal responses during tissue repair. The position will involve experimental design, execution and analysis; development and optimization of experimental approaches; interpretation and presentation of research findings; and contribution to manuscripts and grant-related research. The Fellow will work closely with the PI and other laboratory members while developing increasing scientific independence.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Conduct independent research projects investigating mechanisms of intestinal regeneration, and tumorigenesis using Drosophila and/or mammalian intestinal organoid models.
2. Design, perform, troubleshoot, and analyze experiments addressing how cellular signaling, bioelectric activity, and neuro–epithelial interactions regulate gut tissue repair.
3. Perform experiments using Drosophila genetic approaches , including maintenance and generation of fly crosses, genetic perturbations, brain-gut dissections.
4. Establish, maintain, and experimentally manipulate intestinal organoid cultures to investigate whether mechanisms identified in Drosophila are conserved in mammalian intestinal systems.
5. Apply relevant cellular, molecular, imaging, and quantitative approaches , which may include confocal microscopy, live imaging, calcium and bioelectric imaging, immunostaining, molecular biology techniques, gene-expression analysis, quantitative image analysis, single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), ATAC-seq.
6. Develop and optimize new experimental protocols and approaches required for research projects, maintaining detailed and accurate experimental records.
7. Analyze experimental data using appropriate quantitative and statistical methods and critically interpret results in the context of the scientific literature.
8. Present research findings at laboratory meetings, departmental seminars, scientific conferences, and other appropriate scientific forums.
9. Contribute substantially to the preparation of scientific manuscripts, research reports, figures, presentations, and grant-related materials.
10. Maintain familiarity with current scientific literature relevant to intestinal regeneration, bioelectric signaling, neuro–gut communication, organoid biology, and related areas.
11. Collaborate with laboratory members and investigators within and outside Albert Einstein College of Medicine and contribute to a rigorous, collegial, and productive research environment.
12. Assist with training and scientific guidance of junior laboratory members, including research technicians and students, as appropriate.
13. Ensure compliance with institutional laboratory safety, biological research, and research-integrity requirements.

Qualifications:

Minimum requirements:

• Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in biology, developmental biology, cell biology, molecular biology, neuroscience, physiology, genetics, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience conducting independent experimental research.
• Experience with molecular, cellular, genetic, physiological, imaging, or related experimental approaches.
• Ability to design experiments, analyze data, troubleshoot experimental problems, and interpret scientific findings.
• Evidence of scientific productivity and effective scientific communication.

Preferred background:

• Research experience with Drosophila , intestinal biology, organoid culture, stem cell biology, tissue regeneration, bioelectric signaling, neuroscience, or epithelial physiology.
• Experience with Drosophila genetics and tissue dissection.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and/or intestinal organoid culture.
• Experience with fluorescence microscopy, live imaging, calcium imaging, quantitative image analysis, molecular biology, or gene-expression approaches.
• Experience investigating tissue regeneration, epithelial biology, neuro–epithelial communication, or related biological processes.
• Strong interest in combining genetically tractable model organisms with mammalian experimental systems to investigate fundamental mechanisms of tissue biology.
• Expertise in all of the above areas is not required . Candidates with strong expertise in either Drosophila biology or mammalian intestinal/organoid systems who are interested in developing complementary expertise are encouraged.

Skills:

• Strong experimental design, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to conduct rigorous and reproducible scientific research.
• Proficiency in relevant molecular, genetic or imaging techniques.
• Ability to learn and implement new experimental methodologies.
• Strong quantitative and data-analysis skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and careful maintenance of experimental records.
• Ability to manage multiple experiments and research priorities effectively.
• Strong written and oral scientific communication skills.
• Ability to critically evaluate scientific literature and experimental results.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Commitment to research integrity, rigor, reproducibility, and laboratory safety.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the Principal Investigator, laboratory members, collaborators, and institutional research personnel.
• Initiative, intellectual curiosity, creativity, and increasing scientific independence appropriate for a Research Fellow position.

Scope of Responsibility:

The Research Fellow will report directly to Dr. Afroditi Petsakou and will work closely with other members of the Petsakou Laboratory as well as scientific collaborators at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and other institutions.

The Fellow will be expected to exercise substantial independence in the day-to-day execution of research, including experimental planning, troubleshooting, data analysis, and interpretation, while discussing overall research direction, priorities, and major experimental decisions with the Principal Investigator.

The Fellow will participate in laboratory meetings, individual research meetings, departmental scientific activities, and collaborative research discussions. The position may include mentoring and training research technicians, students, or other junior laboratory members in experimental techniques and research practices.

The Research Fellow will not have independent budgetary authority but will be expected to use laboratory resources responsibly and may assist with identifying experimental needs, coordinating research materials, and planning experiments within available project resources.

The position is intended to provide advanced research training by enabling the Fellow to develop scientific independence and a clear path toward an independent research career , including contributing to publications and grant-supported research and developing grant-writing and fellowship-application skills.

Equal opportunity has been and will continue to be a fundamental principle at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

All hiring/ employment decisions are based on demonstrated capabilities, skills, and qualifications. We do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.