Post-Doctoral Scholar – Hyaluronan Biochemistry and Biophysics

The University of Chicago

Division/Department: Laboratory for Molecular Regeneration, Departments of Surgery and Medicine
Reports to: Raphael C. Lee, MD, ScD, Program Director and Principal Investigator

General Summary:
Under the direction of Dr. Lee, Professor and PI in the Department of Surgery, the incumbent will assume responsibility for investigating the chemical properties and content of glycosaminoglycans, especially hyaluronan, in various adipose tissues. The plan is to use sensitive immunoassay methods such as ELISA, AlphaLisa, and also chromotraphic methods. The biophysical role of hyaluronan in controlling the thermal stability of adipose tissue proteins, especially small molecular weight enzymes, is a question that we are starting to investigate. Historically, our laboratory has focused on defining the capability of synthetic multi-block copolymers to mimic some behaviors of small molecular weight natural molecular chaperones. We postulate that certain glycoproteins manifest similar behavior.


Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

I. Specific to Hyaluronic Acid Studies:

  • Setup and calibrate an ELISA (or similar) system for detecting hyaluronic acid in adipose tissue;
  • Use HPLC, DSC, CD methods or similar to determine molecular weight and perhaps compositional distribution of HA in adipose tissue;
  • Determine HA’s ability to catalyze refolding of thermally denatured proteins using various biophysical assays;
  • Oversee and instruct students performing various research projects;
  • Oversight of undergraduate and graduate students;
  • Assist in maintaining our cell culture facility;
  • Determine variation of HA content of adipose tissue located in different regions of the face;
  • Data processes and analysis.

II. Other duties and responsibilities:

  • Review and edit scientific manuscripts, and provide general writing support and editing support for abstracts,journal articles, book chapters, grant reports and other research oriented documents;
  • Attend professional conferences and meetings and review published literature to keep abreast of developments in biomedical research, as well as those dealing with grant and contract opportunities and the changing environment for research;
  • Collaborate with supervisor(s) / administration to establish goals for self-development, for continual assessment and to evaluate personal knowledge;
  • Oversee undergraduate and medical students in the performance of their research; and
  • Participate in the structured graduate educational programs established for postdoctoral students.
  • Intellectual Activities and Scholarship:

The demands of this postdoctoral position include: reading and preparation of detailed work, problem solving, training, reasoning, self-motivation, written and verbal communication skills, multiple concurrent tasks, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students and constant interruptions.

Qualifications:
A doctorate degree in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biomedical Engineering, or molecular biology is required.