Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency
Texas A&M University Health Science Center

Department
IBT - CGPM - Ramos

Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate

Job Location
Houston, Texas

Job Type
Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who we are

As one of the fastest-growing academic health centers in the nation, Texas A&M Health encompasses five colleges and numerous centers and institutes working together to improve health through transformative education, innovative research and team-based health care delivery.

What we want

The Postdoctoral Research Associate, under general supervision, is responsible for conducting research in stem cell biology, lung developmental biology, epithelial cell fate specification, and human disease modeling. The position will focus on human pluripotent stem cell-derived airway and lung epithelial models, including region-specific airway basal stem cells, hillock-like airway epithelial cells, distal airway/alveolar differentiation, epithelial maturation, disease modeling and lung epithelial injury/regeneration.

What you need to know

Schedule: Occasional work on weekends and/or after normal business hours may be required for cell culture maintenance, time-sensitive experiments, animal monitoring, or sample processing

Responsibilities:
Research

- Conduct independent and collaborative research related to human pluripotent stem cell-derived airway and alveolar epithelial differentiation, regional lung epithelial identity, and lung disease modeling.
- Develop, optimize, and perform hPSC maintenance, directed lung differentiation, airway basal cell differentiation, ALI culture, distal airway/alveolar differentiation, and related in vitro disease-modeling experiments.
- Design and execute hypothesis-driven studies related to epithelial cell fate specification, airway/lung epithelial maturation, hillock-like epithelial cell development, basal cell regional identity, and fibrosis- or disease-associated epithelial remodeling.
- Perform and analyze molecular, cellular, imaging, and functional assays, including flow cytometry, immunostaining, microscopy, qPCR, sequencing sample preparation, and other standard or advanced cell and molecular biology approaches.
- Assist with animal xenograft model experiments, tissue/sample collection, and downstream analysis in accordance with approved institutional protocols, as needed.
- Analyze, interpret, and summarize experimental data; maintain accurate and timely research records; troubleshoot complex protocols; and contribute to the development of standard operating procedures and quality-control practices.
- Prepare figures, written summaries, manuscripts, abstracts, and progress reports. Contribute intellectually to research papers, articles, publications, and grant-related materials.

Mentoring

- Assist with mentoring and training students, research assistants, and other laboratory personnel in hPSC culture, lung differentiation protocols, experimental design, data organization, laboratory techniques, safety procedures, and responsible research practices.
- Support a collaborative laboratory environment by helping junior lab members develop technical skills, experimental rigor, and scientific reasoning.

Presentations

- Prepare and present research findings in laboratory meetings, institutional seminars, scientific conferences, and other small or large group settings.
- Actively participate in the preparation of technical progress reports, sponsor updates, and research presentations related to funded projects.

Department/Laboratory Research Support

- Support laboratory organization, reagent preparation, inventory management, protocol documentation, equipment maintenance, sample tracking, data management, and coordination with sequencing, histology, imaging, flow cytometry, animal, or other core facilities.
- Assist with biosafety, stem cell, and animal research documentation as needed. Participate in maintaining compliance with institutional policies, approved research protocols, and laboratory safety requirements.
- Perform other research-related duties as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Education

- PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree, in biology, biomedical sciences, stem cell biology, developmental biology, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, cancer biology, physiology, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience in stem cell biology, developmental biology, epithelial biology, lung biology, disease modeling, cancer biology, fibrosis biology, regenerative biology, organoid models, molecular biology, or animal model research is preferred.
- Experience with mammalian cell culture, hPSC culture or differentiation, organoid culture, ALI culture, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, microscopy, qPCR, RNA-seq or single-cell sequencing sample preparation, bioinformatics/data analysis, histology/sample processing, and/or animal model support is preferred.
- Prior experience with manuscript preparation, figure generation, scientific presentations, experimental design, and hypothesis-driven research is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Ability to design, execute, troubleshoot, analyze, and interpret experiments independently and collaboratively.
- Excellent sterile technique and knowledge of biosafety practices, with the ability to learn technically demanding hPSC maintenance and directed lung differentiation protocols.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate and timely research records.
- Ability to analyze, summarize, and communicate research results clearly.
- Ability to prepare figures, manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and progress-report materials.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative research team.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and presentation skills.
- Ability to mentor and support students, research assistants, and other laboratory personnel.
- Familiarity with data organization, laboratory inventory management, and animal research compliance requirements.
- Ability to assist with animal model-related experimental preparation, monitoring, tissue/sample collection, and downstream analysis under approved protocols.

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.

- Medical, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/medical/) prescription drug, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/prescriptions-express-scripts/) dental, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/dental/) vision, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/vision-insurance/) life and AD&D, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/life-add/) flexible spending accounts (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/flexible-spending-accounts/) , and long-term disability insurance (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/long-term-disability/) with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

- 12-15 days (https://service.tamu.edu/TDClient/45/Portal/KB/Article/1793/University-Holiday-Calendar) of annual paid holidays

- Up to eight hours of paid sick leave (https://service.tamu.edu/TDClient/45/Portal/KB/Article/1794/Sick-Leave)  and at least  eight hours of paid vacation (https://service.tamu.edu/TDClient/45/Portal/KB/Article/1757/Vacation)  each month

- Automatic enrollment in the  Teacher Retirement System of Texas (https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx)

- Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time (https://flourish.tamu.edu/wellness-release-time/)

- Professional Development: All employees have access to free  LinkedIn Learning (https://linkedinlearning.tamu.edu/)  training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more

- Educational release time and tuition assistance (https://livingwell.tamu.edu/employee-tuition-assistance)  for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

- Living Well, (https://livingwell.tamu.edu/) a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered, or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.