Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Center for Discovery and Innovation

Hackensack Meridian Health Inc.; Nutley (NJ); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) at Hackensack Meridian Health invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to advance infectious disease drug discovery. The position focuses on mass spectrometry‑based analysis, PK/PD modeling, and preclinical development within a collaborative, well-funded program.

The fellow will leverage HPLC-MS/MS tech, spatial pharmacology methods, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration to characterize drug candidates and support transition toward

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. degree in scientific or related discipline.
• Minimum publication or in preparation of one article as first author in a reputable peer-reviewed journal.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Good problem solving skills.
• Ability to conduct independent research.
• Ability to work effectively in a team.
• Lab specific techniques (varies by lab).
• Proficient computer skills including MS Office and Google Suite.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply advanced HPLC-MS/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry methods.
• Perform metabolite identification, drug characterization, and quantitative bioanalysis.
• Conduct PK/PD modeling and preclinical pharmacology studies.
• Employ laser capture microdissection with LC-MS/MS to study tissue drug distribution.
• Collaborate with microbiology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and drug development teams.

Skills

Excellent communication

Team player

Independent research

Lab techniques

Analytical thinking

Computer skills

Education

Ph.D. in scientific field

First-author publication

Job description

The Center for Discovery and Innovation- CDI was established by Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) as an academic basic and translational research enterprise to rapidly translate science innovation to the clinic and to improve outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disease and other acute and chronic diseases. The CDI has grown rapidly since its origins in 2019, and now has 39 labs, 200+ scientists and allied personnel supported by 78 NIH and DoD grants and more than 87 other grants and contracts. Areas of expertise include genomics, epigenetics, drug resistance, stem cell biology, drug discovery, diagnostics and biomarker development, rheumatology and pharmacology.

The Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) is recruiting a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join a multidisciplinary and well-funded research program focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for infectious diseases of global health importance.
Our research programs span a broad range of pathogens and diseases, including tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections, viruses of pandemic concern, invasive fungal infections, including Candida, Aspergillus, and other priority fungal pathogens, and ESKAPE bacterial pathogens. The program is supported by a diverse portfolio of competitive funding from the National Institutes of Health, including R01 and U19 awards, BARDA, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, providing strong resources and opportunities for innovative translational research. The fellow will apply advanced analytical, pharmacological, and mass spectrometry-based approaches to characterize drug candidates and support their progression from early discovery through advanced preclinical development.

Responsibilities will include developing and applying advanced HPLC-MS/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry methods for metabolite identification and drug characterization, quantitative bioanalysis, pharmacokinetic analysis, drug metabolism studies, and drug formulation development. The fellow will also contribute to PK/PD modeling and the design and analysis of preclinical pharmacology studies. A major component of the position will involve developing and applying laser capture microdissection coupled with quantitative LC-MS/MS (LCM-LC-MS/MS) to investigate spatial drug distribution and drug penetration into tissues and infectious lesions. The fellow will work closely with scientists across microbiology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and drug development to integrate bioanalytical, PK, PD, and spatial pharmacology data and help advance promising anti-infective drug candidates toward clinical development.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity to gain broad, hands-on expertise in mass spectrometry, bioanalysis, pharmacokinetics, PK/PD, drug metabolism, formulation, and translational drug development within a highly collaborative and well-supported infectious disease research environment.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• A Ph.D. degree in scientific or related discipline.
• Minimum publication or in preparation of one article as first author in a reputable peer-reviewed journal.
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Good problem solving skills.
• Ability to conduct independent research.
• Ability to work effectively in a team.
• Lab specific techniques. (Varies by lab)
• Proficient computer skills including but not limited to Microsoft Office and Google Suite platforms.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Lab Specific.