Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Kidney Disease Research

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc. invites applications for a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in the Feng lab.

The fellow will lead one or more kidney disease–focused projects, leveraging organ-on-a-chip, intravital imaging, CRISPR, and mass spectrometry under close mentorship, with appointment at Harvard Medical School. The role emphasizes independent project development, rigorous scientific inquiry, and opportunities for collaboration across Harvard affiliates and BIDMC.

Qualifications

• PhD or MD degree required; postdoctoral experience or teaching in academia is helpful.
• Ability to pursue and design independent research questions under mentorship.
• Experience with scientific writing and manuscript preparation.

Responsibilities

• Abides by institutional policies related to health, safety, and data management.
• Pursues and develops research under supervision, building towards independent work.
• Performs experiments, designs studies, and evaluates results under PI guidance.
• Prepares and publishes scientific manuscripts under PI supervision.
• Develops expertise in lab skills and informatics; advances independence over time.
• Contributes new ideas to the research program and mentors students as appropriate.
• Collaborates with other groups, attends and leads seminars, and communicates findings.

Skills

Decision Making

Problem Solving

Independence of Action

Written Communications

Oral Communications

Knowledge

Team Work

Customer Service

Education

Doctoral Degree or M.D.

Job description

Job Description:

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives. The Feng lab is looking for a Post-doctoral Research Fellow. Dr. Di Feng is Assistant Professor of Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. Her lab integrates the latest techniques across multiple disciplines to understand mechanisms of podocyte- and tubular-mediated kidney disease. These techniques include organ-on-a-chip technology, intravital microscopy, Superresolution imaging, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell engineering, and mass spectrometry, among others. Dr. Feng’s work has been published in the field’s leading journals, including Cell Metabolism, PNAS, and JASN. The Post-doctoral fellow will be a key member of our team, leading one or more projects that match career goals and interests. Projects span rare familial forms of kidney disease to common forms of kidney disease—such as diabetic nephropathy—as well as renal drivers of systemic disease—such as salt-sensitive hypertension. The fellow will have the opportunity to learn the above skills and more under close mentorship. The position comes with an appointment at Harvard Medical School and access to cutting-edge technology and resources across Harvard Medical School and affiliated hospitals and institutions.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Abides by the institutional policies of BIDMC relating to health and safety, equality of opportunity and data storage and management. (essential)
• As a member of the research team, actively pursues research under the supervision of a principal investigator while developing skills for independent work. (essential)
• Receives training in and performs duties contributing to the investigational work of the team including formulation of research questions and design, conduct of experiments, and evaluation of results. (essential)
• Prepares and publishes scientific manuscripts under direction of PI. (essential)
• Develops expertise in desired lab skills/informatics/ physics/clinical research. Develops proficiency with research tools and equipment. Develops ability to work with more independence as the fellowship progresses (essential)
• Develops new ideas that promote current research; brings new expertise to the research program. (essential)
• teaching skills and provide supervision of students and their projects when appropriate. (essential)
• Engages in collaborative meetings with other research groups. Attends and leads scientific seminars. (essential)
• Learns to identify, acknowledge and correct deficiencies in one's own performance. (essential)
• Under the direction of PI, pursues/secures independent funding near the end of the fellowship. (essential)

Required Qualifications:

• Doctoral Degree or M.D. 0-1 year of postdoctoral research experience in academic or industrial lab setting, and/or teaching assistantship in a university setting, and/or residency, and/or clinical duties beyond that of the qualifying doctoral degree.

Competencies:

• Decision Making: Ability to make decisions that are guided by general instructions and practices requiring some interpretation. May make recommendations for solving problems of moderate complexity and importance.
• Problem Solving: Ability to address problems that are varied, requiring analysis or interpretation of the situation using direct observation, knowledge and skills based on general precedents.
• Independence of Action: Ability to follow precedents and procedures. May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines. Seeks assistance when confronted with difficult and/or unpredictable situations. Work progress is monitored by supervisor/manager.
• Written Communications: Ability to summarize and communicate in English moderately complex information in varied written formats to internal and external customers.
• Oral Communications: Ability to comprehend and communicate complex verbal information in English to medical center staff, patients, families and external customers.
• Knowledge: Ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of concepts, practices and policies with the ability to use them in complex varied situations.
• Team Work: Ability to lead collaborative teams for larger projects or groups both internal and external to the Medical Center and across functional areas. Results have implications for the management and operations of multiple areas of the organization.
• Customer Service: Ability to provide a high level of customer service and staff training to meet customer service standards and expectations for the assigned unit(s). Resolves service issues in the assigned unit(s) in a timely and respectful manner.

Physical Nature of the Job:

Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Some elements of the job are sedentary, but the employee will be required to stand for periods of time or move throughout the hospital campus.

Pay Range:

$60,000.00 USD - $75,564.00 USD The pay range listed for this position is the annual base salary range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law. As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities.

Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled:

At Beth Israel Lahey Health, we are driving the change in health care that Massachusetts wants and needs. Our culture promotes continuous learning, growth, innovation and a sense of belonging. We make it a priority to offer comprehensive compensation and benefits and help you achieve a healthy and balanced life. While you're busy caring for and supporting our patients, we take care of you.