Postdoctoral Associate - Bioengineering (Finance)
About George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing
The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing ranks among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff, and students in an inclusive environment.
We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought, and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.
Position Summary
The McHugh Lab in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University (Houston, TX) seeks to hire a postdoctoral associate working in the area of immunology for novel vaccine development. At a high level, the McHugh Lab is focused on the development of translational drug delivery platforms with the potential to address a variety of conditions ranging from prophylaxis for infectious diseases to cancer therapies. These bespoke delivery systems often leverage a combination of material properties and advanced manufacturing techniques and engage the immune system to fight disease.
The postdoctoral fellow selected for this position will co-lead an interdisciplinary project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that aims to employ a controlled-release vaccine delivery platform to create combination vaccines with otherwise incompatible vaccines. Specifically, we aim to encapsulate a next-generation polio vaccine inside particles fabricated using the Particles Uniformly Liquified and Sealed to Encapsulate Drug (PULSED) platform to offset the timing of release from a co-delivered soluble vaccine to prevent immunological interference. The responsibilities of the postdoctoral fellow selected for this position will include evaluating vaccine stability and release in vitro as well as planning and performing in vivo experiments to characterize the immune response to multiple antigens. Additionally, this postdoc will be responsible for directing the work of a research technician working on the project and collaborating with a postdoc specializing in the development of new materials to be used with the PULSED platform.
The ideal candidate will be creative, highly motivated, experienced working with animals, and have a deep understanding of immunology and immunological characterization techniques. The candidate should also have strong written and oral communication skills, as evidenced by previous publications and presentations. As a senior member of the lab, the candidate will also be expected to spend a small portion of their time supporting and training junior lab members and will also assist in the preparation of research proposals. In turn, the candidate will receive one-on-one mentorship from the PI, support for their postdoctoral fellowship applications, and (if desired) job applications for faculty positions in academia.
This position is a one-year term-limited position funded by a grant with the expectation of renewal beyond the initial appointment period with satisfactory performance. Funding for this project has been secured through August 2027 and funds to support continued employment beyond that date will likely be available. This position is available immediately; however, the start date is flexible and could be delayed until late Spring 2025 based on the needs of the applicant.
Due to its location at the boundary between Rice University and the Texas Medical Center-the largest medical center in the world-the lab is uniquely positioned to advance its technologies towards the clinic with active collaborations with clinician-scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist, and Texas Heart Institute.
Hiring range - Minimum salary $61,008
Requirements
- Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in immunology, biomedical engineering, bioengineering, vaccinology, biology, or related fields
- No experience required
Skills Required
- Knowledge of with ELISA
- Familiarity with humoral and cellular immune characterization
- Familiarity with in vivo protocol development and execution
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience preparing and submitting manuscripts
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
Preferences
- Experience mentoring early-career trainees
- Previous experience with drug or vaccine delivery
- Familiarity with micro/nanofabrication or 3D printing
- Passion for translational research
Essential Functions
- Developing and evaluating in vitro antigen stability by ELISA
- Designing in vivo studies to evaluate controlled-release vaccine formulations
- Collecting and analyzing data
- Publishing papers and presenting findings at national and international conferences
- Mentoring junior research team members, including graduate and undergraduate students
- Assisting with proposal development to obtain research funding
- Supporting project management, reporting, and collaboration across disciplines
- Performing all other duties as assigned
Additional Information
- This posting will remain open until a candidate is hired or until November 30, 2025.
Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University
Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.
If you have any questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
About Us
Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.
