Research Fellow - Gerontology

610 Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Wake Forest University Health Sciences – Gerontology is seeking a NIH-funded postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Bumsoo Ahn to study mitochondrial bioenergetics and muscle adaptation in aging and cancer models.

The fellow will lead research on how interventions that modulate bioenergetics affect muscle performance and stress responses, with in vitro and in vivo approaches. The position offers opportunities for first-author publications and structured mentorship toward career development

Qualifications

• PhD completed in physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, cancer biology, or related field.
• Proficiency in cell culture, mouse handling, microdissections, and molecular biology techniques.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement interventions that modulate mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox balance.
• Conduct cell culture, rodent behavioral and functional assessments, including motor and cognitive testing.
• Perform mitochondrial bioenergetic assessments using Seahorse Bioscience or Oroboros O2k high resolution respirometry.
• Coordinate redox and proteomic analyses.
• Analyze and interpret data in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.
• Contribute to manuscript preparation and grant development.

Skills

Cell culture

Mouse handling

Molecular biology techniques

Oral and written communication

Education

PhD in physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, cancer biology, or related field

Job description

Department: 38923 Wake Forest University Health Sciences - Gerontology Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hours Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Monday - Friday 8 - 5 pm Pay Range: $30.70 - $46.05

Job Summary: An NIH-funded postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Bumsoo Ahn at Wake Forest University School of Medicine to investigate mitochondrial bioenergetics and muscle adaptation in models of aging and cancer. The fellow will lead a line of research examining how interventions that modulate mitochondrial bioenergetics influence muscle performance, energetic reserve, and physiological responses to stress. Projects will integrate cell culture, in vivo mouse models, functional phenotyping, and mechanistic bioenergetic analyses, with flexibility to pursue emerging directions as new findings arise. This position offers strong opportunities for first-author publications and provides structured mentorship toward competitive career development funding within a collaborative and translational research environment focused on aging and muscle biology.

Basic Qualifications Applicants with no more than two years' experience after completing a PhD in physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, cancer biology, or a related field. Proficiency in cell culture, mouse handling, microdissections, and molecular biology techniques (i.e., qRT-PCR, western blot and imaging) Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

The postdoctoral fellow will: Design and implement interventions that modulate mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox balance, including voluntary wheel running and ghrelin administration via osmotic pump. Conduct cell culture, rodent behavioral and functional assessments, including motor and cognitive testing. Perform mitochondrial bioenergetic assessments using Seahorse Bioscience or Oroboros O2k high resolution respirometry Coordinate redox and proteomic analyses. Analyze and interpret data in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. Contribute to manuscript preparation and grant development.

Research Environment

The Ahn laboratory conducts mechanistic and translational research focused on mitochondrial bioenergetics, redox signaling, aging, and resilience. The fellow will work within a collaborative environment that includes clinical oncologists, behavioral neuroscientists, proteomics experts, and biostatisticians. The position offers strong mentorship in experimental design, high-impact publication strategy, and NIH career development pathways.

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Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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