Postdoctoral Fellow

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 50,835 - 62,132; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Paid vacation and sick leave

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Austin is looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow to facilitate cutting-edge research on cell viability and vaccine performance. The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D. in a related field and have strong skills in experimental design and research publication. The position offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity for professional development. Responsibilities include performing experiments, data analysis, and publishing findings. The role is expected to start immediately and run until December 31, 2024.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in relevant field earned within three years of start date.
• Demonstrated ability to publish novel research in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience in aseptic technique and animal work preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform general experiments including protocol design for vaccine formulations.
• Conduct in vivo experiments and data analysis.
• Publish and present research findings.

Skills

Adaptability to interdisciplinary research

Time management

Critical thinking

Interpersonal communication

Research publication

Education

Ph.D. in Materials Science, Bioengineering, or related life sciences

Tools

Flow cytometry

Virus-based assays

Bioinformatics

Job description

Join as a Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy. Position open to all applicants. Weekly scheduled hours 40, exempt status, start immediately, duration until Dec 31, 2024. Location: Austin, TX.

General Notes
Competitive compensation plans and comprehensive benefits package that includes insurance, Teacher Retirement System (TRS) benefits, paid vacation, sick and holiday time, professional development and wellness services, opportunity to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and more.

Purpose

The Postdoctoral Fellow reports to Dr. Maria Croyle and facilitates a funded research project evaluating the physical and biochemical properties of materials that sustain the viability of primary cells and cell lines at ambient and elevated temperatures, and a secondary focus on evaluating the performance of a panel of stabilized vaccines after administration in several in vivo models of infectious disease.

Responsibilities

• Perform general experiments, including design of protocols to optimize and characterize formulations for vaccine and cell storage.
• Perform in vivo experiments including preparation and characterization of vaccine candidates, collection and processing of samples, and data analysis.
• Publish and present work in high-quality peer-reviewed journals and at national/international meetings.
• Support writing and preparation of grant applications (NIH, NSF, DOD, etc.).
• Maintain records of safety and other administrative documents required for lab operation.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in Materials Science, Bioengineering, Drug Delivery, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Immunology, or related life sciences. PhD earned within three years of start date.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to diverse interdisciplinary research projects.
• Superior time management, critical thinking, documentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to publish novel research in peer-reviewed journals.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1–2 years post-PhD research experience.
• Experience in aseptic technique, working under BSL II conditions, and animal work.
• Experience with virus-based assays (infectious titer, neutralizing antibodies).
• Experience performing flow cytometry with primary cells.
• Experience working with mRNA-based vaccines.
• Some experience in bioinformatics / analysis of RNA‑Seq datasets.

Salary Range

• $56,484+ depending on qualifications.

Working Conditions

• BSL II Virology Laboratory.
• Open office environment.
• Repetitive use of keyboard at a workstation.
• Use of manual dexterity.
• Ability to lift 20 pounds regularly.

Required Materials

• CV.
• Letter of Interest.
• List of 3 Professional References; at least one must be from a supervisor.

Employment Eligibility

Please make sure you meet all the required qualifications and can perform all essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) subject to position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. Option to elect Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalists under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

University of Texas at Austin is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complying with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

University will not discriminate because of inquiries about pay. Employees with access to compensation info cannot disclose to parties without access unless required by law or investigation.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I‑9 form and present acceptable documents by day three of employment. Failure will result in loss of employment.

E‑Verify

University uses E‑Verify for new hires. University ID number 854197. See E‑Verify Poster (English/Spanish) and Right To Work Poster (English/Spanish).

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX or Clery Act. Information on security reports is available at University Compliance Services.