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Monday, April 25, 2011

 

International Doctoral/Postdoctoral Program

The Inserm UMR 643/ITUN in Nantes (France) is launching its International doctoral/postdoctoral Program by opening in 2011 a competitive call for one postdoctoral fellowship. This Progreffe Foundation Program aims to recruit highly-motivated and successful Master students or postdoc researchers of any nationality. The PhD or postdoc position will cover respectively three or two years of research activity and training in a strong research environment, offering a competitive salary depending on qualifications and previous training. Participations to local seminars and national as well as international meetings will be covered. Further funding for additional years from other sources may be available.

Applicants are asked to choose only one project from the ones proposed. 5 teams of the Institute propose one project. The scientific advisory board of the institute will select up to three candidates that will be interviewed on site for final selection.

Deadline: Sunday, May 1, 2011
Pre-selected candidates will be informed by June 1st, 2011.
For more info and on how to apply: http://tinyurl.com/international-postdoc
 

QC Chemists Needed for Data Review: Clayton, NC

Are you a Chemist with a passion for advancing the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries? Our client is a leader in the development and manufacture of medication delivery systems, specialty injectable pharmaceuticals, and critical care devices.

Kelly Scientific Resources is currently seeking senior level Chemists to work within a quality control laboratory at a world-renowned pharmaceutical company in the Rocky Mount area. This opportunity is a contract assignment; scheduled to last three to five months. (Must be able to work off-shifts; as well as, over the weekend.)

Duties and Responsibilities Include:
- QC Chemistry Testing (Including HPLC, GC, MS, general wet chemistry
techniques and testing)
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Troubleshooting of equipment
- Maintaining a detailed laboratory notebook

Experience Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry (or related field)
- 3-5 Years of QC Chemistry Testing Experience
- GMP Experience
- Pharmaceutical Experience is desirable, but not required

Please apply online at www.kellyscientific.com or send resume to: 4531@kellyscientific.com for immediate consideration.
 

Product Development Scientist Position

The Product Development Scientist at Accentia Biopharmaceuticals is responsible for providing medical and scientific expertise to clinical product development projects, including the Company’s autologous vaccine for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and product(s) for treatment of autoimmune disorders.

Also responsible for data analysis and design within clinical workgroups, including development of clinical trial documentation, clinical databases, reviewing and guiding decisions regarding monitoring safety, eligibility, enrollment and data consistency, providing medical expertise and evaluation of questions regarding patient care, and establishing and fostering relationships in the clinical/scientific community and with external experts.

EDUCATION AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Education: M.D., D.O., PhD or PharmD

Experience: Two to five years of experience in clinical research, medical affairs or clinical development within a postdoctoral research program or in the pharmaceutical or CRO industry preferred. Working understanding of clinical trial design, analysis, and reporting. Working understanding of the drug development process. Ability to recognize safety and efficacy data trends.

Deadline: May 30, 2011

To apply: Please forward your CV to Ivan Sanabria, HR Manager at isanabria@accentia.net or 813-321-7271.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

 

Education: The PhD factory

The world is producing more PhDs than ever before. Is it time to stop?

Scientists who attain a PhD are rightly proud — they have gained entry to an academic elite. But it is not as elite as it once was. The number of science doctorates earned each year grew by nearly 40% between 1998 and 2008, to some 34,000, in countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The growth shows no sign of slowing: most countries are building up their higher-education systems because they see educated workers as a key to economic growth (see 'The rise of doctorates'). But in much of the world, science PhD graduates may never get a chance to take full advantage of their qualifications.

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In some countries, including the United States and Japan, people who have trained at great length and expense to be researchers confront a dwindling number of academic jobs, and an industrial sector unable to take up the slack. Supply has outstripped demand and, although few PhD holders end up unemployed, it is not clear that spending years securing this high-level qualification is worth it for a job as, for example, a high-school teacher. In other countries, such as China and India, the economies are developing fast enough to use all the PhDs they can crank out, and more — but the quality of the graduates is not consistent. Only a few nations, including Germany, are successfully tackling the problem by redefining the PhD as training for high-level positions in careers outside academia. Here, Nature examines graduate-education systems in various states of health.

Japan: A system in crisis

Of all the countries in which to graduate with a science PhD, Japan is arguably one of the worst. In the 1990s, the government set a policy to triple the number of postdocs to 10,000, and stepped up PhD recruitment to meet that goal. The policy was meant to bring Japan's science capacity up to match that of the West — but is now much criticized because, although it quickly succeeded, it gave little thought to where all those postdocs were going to end up.

Academia doesn't want them: the number of 18-year-olds entering higher education has been dropping, so universities don't need the staff. Neither does Japanese industry, which has traditionally preferred young, fresh bachelor's graduates who can be trained on the job. The science and education ministry couldn't even sell them off when, in 2009, it started offering companies around ¥4 million (US$47,000) each to take on some of the country's 18,000 unemployed postdoctoral students (one of several initiatives that have been introduced to improve the situation). "It's just hard to find a match" between postdoc and company, says Koichi Kitazawa, the head of the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

This means there are few jobs for the current crop of PhDs. Of the 1,350 people awarded doctorates in natural sciences in 2010, just over half (746) had full-time posts lined up by the time they graduated. But only 162 were in the academic sciences or technological services,; of the rest, 250 took industry positions, 256 went into education and 38 got government jobs.

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With such dismal prospects, the number entering PhD programmes has dropped off (see 'Patterns of PhD production'). "Everyone tends to look at the future of the PhD labour market very pessimistically," says Kobayashi Shinichi, a specialist in science and technology workforce issues at the Research Center for University Studies at Tsukuba University.

China: Quantity outweighs quality?

The number of PhD holders in China is going through the roof, with some 50,000 people graduating with doctorates across all disciplines in 2009 — and by some counts it now surpasses all other countries. The main problem is the low quality of many graduates.

Yongdi Zhou, a cognitive neuroscientist at the East China Normal University in Shanghai, identifies four contributing factors. The length of PhD training, at three years, is too short, many PhD supervisors are not well qualified, the system lacks quality control and there is no clear mechanism for weeding out poor students.

Even so, most Chinese PhD holders can find a job at home: China's booming economy and capacity building has absorbed them into the workforce. "Relatively speaking, it is a lot easier to find a position in academia in China compared with the United States," says Yigong Shi, a structural biologist at Tsinghua University in Beijing, and the same is true in industry. But PhD graduates can run into problems if they want to enter internationally competitive academia. To get a coveted post at a top university or research institution requires training, such as a postdoctoral position, in another country. Many researchers do not return to China, draining away the cream of the country's crop.

The quality issue should be helped by China's efforts to recruit more scholars from abroad. Shi says that more institutions are now starting to introduce thesis committees and rotations, which will make students less dependent on a single supervisor in a hierarchical system. "Major initiatives are being implemented in various graduate programmes throughout China," he says. "China is constantly going through transformations."

Singapore: Growth in all directions

The picture is much rosier in Singapore. Here, the past few years have seen major investment and expansion in the university system and in science and technology infrastructure, including the foundation of two new publicly funded universities. This has attracted students from at home and abroad. Enrolment of Singaporean nationals in PhD programmes has grown by 60% over the past five years, to 789 in all disciplines — and the country has actively recruited foreign graduate students from China, India, Iran, Turkey, eastern Europe and farther afield.

“Everyone tends to look at the future of the PhD labour market very pessimistically.”

Because the university system in Singapore has been underdeveloped until now, most PhD holders go to work outside academia, but continued expansion of the universities could create more opportunities. "Not all end up earning a living from what they have been trained in," says Peter Ng, who studies biodiversity at the National University of Singapore. "Some have very different jobs — from teachers to bankers. But they all get a good job." A PhD can be lucrative, says Ng, with a graduate earning at least S$4,000 (US$3,174) a month, compared with the S$3,000 a month earned by a student with a good undergraduate degree.

"I see a PhD not just as the mastery of a discipline, but also training of the mind," says Ng. "If they later practise what they have mastered — excellent — otherwise, they can take their skill sets into a new domain and add value to it."

United States: Supply versus demand

To Paula Stephan, an economist at Georgia State University in Atlanta who studies PhD trends, it is "scandalous" that US politicians continue to speak of a PhD shortage. The United States is second only to China in awarding science doctorates — it produced an estimated 19,733 in the life sciences and physical sciences in 2009 — and production is going up. But Stephan says that no one should applaud this trend, "unless Congress wants to put money into creating jobs for these people rather than just creating supply".

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The proportion of people with science PhDs who get tenured academic positions in the sciences has been dropping steadily and industry has not fully absorbed the slack. The problem is most acute in the life sciences, in which the pace of PhD growth is biggest, yet pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have been drastically downsizing in recent years. In 1973, 55% of US doctorates in the biological sciences secured tenure-track positions within six years of completing their PhDs, and only 2% were in a postdoc or other untenured academic position. By 2006, only 15% were in tenured positions six years after graduating, with 18% untenured (see 'What shall we do about all the PhDs?'). Figures suggest that more doctorates are taking jobs that do not require a PhD. "It's a waste of resources," says Stephan. "We're spending a lot of money training these students and then they go out and get jobs that they're not well matched for."

The poor job market has discouraged some potential students from embarking on science PhDs, says Hal Salzman, a professor of public policy at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Nevertheless, production of US doctorates continues apace, fuelled by an influx of foreign students. Academic research was still the top career choice in a 2010 survey of 30,000 science and engineering PhD students and postdocs, says Henry Sauermann, who studies strategic management at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Many PhD courses train students specifically for that goal. Half of all science and engineering PhD recipients graduating in 2007 had spent over seven years working on their degrees, and more than one-third of candidates never finish at all.

Some universities are now experimenting with PhD programmes that better prepare graduate students for careers outside academia (see page 280). Anne Carpenter, a cellular biologist at the Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is trying to create jobs for existing PhD holders, while discouraging new ones. When she set up her lab four years ago, Carpenter hired experienced staff scientists on permanent contracts instead of the usual mix of temporary postdocs and graduate students. "The whole pyramid scheme of science made little sense to me," says Carpenter. "I couldn't in good conscience churn out a hundred graduate students and postdocs in my career."

But Carpenter has struggled to justify the cost of her staff to grant-review panels. "How do I compete with laboratories that hire postdocs for $40,000 instead of a scientist for $80,000?" she asks. Although she remains committed to her ideals, she says that she will be more open to hiring postdocs in the future.

Germany: The progressive PhD

Germany is Europe's biggest producer of doctoral graduates, turning out some 7,000 science PhDs in 2005. After a major redesign of its doctoral education programmes over the past 20 years, the country is also well on its way to solving the oversupply problem.

Traditionally, supervisors recruited PhD students informally and trained them to follow in their academic footsteps, with little oversight from the university or research institution. But as in the rest of Europe, the number of academic positions available to graduates in Germany has remained stable or fallen. So these days, a PhD in Germany is often marketed as advanced training not only for academia — a career path pursued by the best of the best — but also for the wider workforce.

“The relatively low income of german academic staff makes leaving the university after the PhD a good option.”

Universities now play a more formal role in student recruitment and development, and many students follow structured courses outside the lab, including classes in presenting, report writing and other transferable skills. Just under 6% of PhD graduates in science eventually go into full-time academic positions, and most will find research jobs in industry, says Thorsten Wilhelmy, who studies doctoral education for the German Council of Science and Humanities in Cologne. "The long way to professorship in Germany and the relatively low income of German academic staff makes leaving the university after the PhD a good option," he says.

Thomas Jørgensen, who heads a programme to support and develop doctoral education for the European University Association, based in Brussels, is concerned that German institutions could push reforms too far, leaving students spending so long in classes that they lack time to do research for their thesis and develop critical-thinking skills. The number of German doctorates has stagnated over the past two decades, and Jørgensen worries about this at a time when PhD production is growing in China, India and other increasingly powerful economies.

Poland: Expansion at a cost

Growth in PhD numbers among Europe's old guard might be waning, but some of the former Eastern bloc countries, such as Poland, have seen dramatic increases. In 1990–91, Polish institutions enrolled 2,695 PhD students. This figure rose to more than 32,000 in 2008–09 as the Polish government, trying to expand the higher-education system after the fall of Communism, introduced policies to reward institutions for enrolling doctoral candidates.

Despite the growth, there are problems. A dearth of funding for doctoral studies causes high drop-out rates, says Andrzej Kraśniewski, a researcher at Warsaw University of Technology and secretary-general of the Polish Rectors Conference, an association representing Polish universities. In engineering, more than half of students will not complete their PhDs, he says. The country's economic growth has not kept pace with that of its PhD numbers, so people with doctorates can end up taking jobs below their level of expertise. And Poland needs to collect data showing that PhDs from its institutions across the country are of consistent quality, and are comparable with the rest of Europe, says Kraśniewski.

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Still, in Poland as in most countries, unemployment for PhD holders is below 3%. "Employment prospects for holders of doctorates remain better than for other higher-education graduates," says Laudeline Auriol, author of an OECD report on doctorate holders between 1990 and 2006, who is now analysing doctoral-student data up to 2010. Still, a survey of scientists by Nature last year showed that PhD holders were not always more satisfied with their jobs than those without the degree, nor were they earning substantially more (see 'What's a PhD worth?').

Egypt: Struggle to survive

Egypt is the Middle East's powerhouse for doctoral studies. In 2009, the country had about 35,000 students enrolled in doctoral programmes, up from 17,663 in 1998. But funding has not kept up with demand. The majority comes through university budgets, which are already strained by the large enrolment of students in undergraduate programmes and postgraduate studies other than PhDs. Universities have started turning to international funding and collaborations with the private sector, but this source of funding remains very limited.

The deficit translates into shortages in equipment and materials, a lack of qualified teaching staff and poor compensation for researchers. It also means that more of the funding burden is falling on the students. The squeeze takes a toll on the quality of research, and creates tension between students and supervisors. "The PhD student here in Egypt faces numerous problems," says Mounir Hana, a food scientist and PhD supervisor at Minia University, who says that he tries to help solve them. "Unfortunately, many supervisors do not bother, and end up adding one more hurdle in the student's way."

Graduates face a tough slog. As elsewhere, there are many more PhD holders in Egypt than the universities can employ as researchers and academics. The doctorate is frequently a means of climbing the civil-service hierarchy, but those in the private sector often complain that graduates are untrained in the practical skills they need, such as proposal writing and project management. Egyptian PhD holders also struggle to secure international research positions. Hana calls the overall quality of their research papers "mediocre" and says that pursuing a PhD is "worthless" except for those already working in a university. But the political upheaval in the region this year could bring about change: many academics who had left Egypt are returning, hoping to help rebuild and overhaul education and research.

Few PhDs are trained elsewhere in the Middle East — less than 50 a year in Lebanon, for example. But several world-class universities established in the oil-rich Gulf States in recent years have increased demand for PhD holders. So far, most of the researchers have been 'imported' after receiving their degrees from Western universities, but Saudi Arabia and Qatar in particular have been building up their infrastructure to start offering more PhD programmes themselves. The effect will be felt throughout the region, says Fatma Hammad, an endocrinologist and PhD supervisor at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. "Many graduates are now turning to doctoral studies because there is a large demand in the Gulf States. For them, it is a way to land jobs there and increase their income," she says.

India: PhDs wanted

In 2004, India produced around 5,900 science, technology and engineering PhDs, a figure that has now grown to some 8,900 a year. This is still a fraction of the number from China and the United States, and the country wants many more, to match the explosive growth of its economy and population. The government is making major investments in research and higher education — including a one-third increase in the higher-education budget in 2011–12 — and is trying to attract investment from foreign universities. The hope is that up to 20,000 PhDs will graduate each year by 2020, says Thirumalachari Ramasami, the Indian government's head of science and technology.


Those targets ought to be easy to reach: India's population is young, and undergraduate education is booming (see Nature 472, 24–26; 2011). But there is little incentive to continue into a lengthy PhD programme, and only around 1% of undergraduates currently do so. Most are intent on securing jobs in industry, which require only an undergraduate degree and are much more lucrative than the public-sector academic and research jobs that need postgraduate education. Students "don't think of PhDs now, not even master's — a bachelor's is good enough to get a job", says Amit Patra, an engineer at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur.

Even after a PhD, there are few academic opportunities in India, and better-paid industry jobs are the major draw. "There is a shortage of PhDs and we have to compete with industry for that resource — the universities have very little chance of winning that game," says Patra. For many young people intent on postgraduate education, the goal is frequently to go to the United States or Europe. That was the course chosen by Manu Prakash, who went to MIT for his PhD and now runs his own experimental biophysics lab at Stanford University in California. "When I went through the system in India, the platform for doing long-term research I didn't feel was well-supported," he says.

Source: nature.com

by David Cyranoski , Natasha Gilbert , Heidi Ledford , Anjali Nayar & Mohammed Yahia


Saturday, April 23, 2011

 

Jobs at Advanced Liquid Logic: Grant Writer, Summer Intern, Engineers

Position Description: Technical Grant Writer
Reports to: CTO, V. Pamula

Position Summary
Responsible for high quality written scientific documents for funding applications and publication, including writing, editing, and proofreading grant proposals, scientific manuscripts for peer review, white papers, protocols, and other scientific documents; searches for new funding opportunities; assists with updating reference materials.

Duties and Responsibilities
- Draft high quality written grant applications, translate scientific abstracts into lay terms.
- Assist with maintenance of databases and/or reference libraries.
- Search the internet and other sources for foundation and government grant opportunities.
- Identify fit between granting agencies’ research needs and the company’s technical capabilities.
- Perform literature/product searches on new ideas to figure out the landscape
- Assist with planning and conducting educational courses and workshops.
- Assist with assembling scientific documents as necessary (e.g., large institutional grants, annual/occasional reports, progress reports for grants admin., etc.).
- All other duties as assigned

Education and Experience
- Masters Degree in Biology, biochemistry, other life science, or engineering background, Postdoctoral fellows with grant writing experience preferred.
- 1 year scientific writing experience, preferably in a healthcare/research/academic environment.
- Proven experience writing grants, including NIH R01 proposals, and/or experience with IND applications and clinical protocols preferred.

Qualifications and Requirements
- Curiosity and critical thinking strengths to explore new ideas and make connections within and outside of our technology space
- Ability to assimilate concepts and present in a cogent, concise and coherent written document
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail and interpersonal skills
- Excellent written and verbal English skills
- Strong on-line search skills
- Must have the flexibility to be able to handle changing priorities and deadlines while maintaining a high quality of workmanship.

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Position Description: Biophysical Chemistry R&D - Summer Intern
Reports to: Theodore Winger, PhD

The summer intern will support the Biophysical Chemistry R&D team by performing experiments to advance the company’s electrowetting technology.

Job Duties include:
- Interfacial energy imaging in microtiter plates for fast screening of reagent formulations with predictive value with regard to electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) performance.
- Mathematical modeling of experimental data (principal component analysis).
- Conducting electrowetting experiments using state-of-the-art EWOD equipment.
- Determination of the stability of novel EWOD reagent formulations.

Qualifications:
- MS or PhD-level student or postdoc
- Bright and inquisitive mind
- Independent thinking
- Interested in analytical/physical chemistry, interfacial phenomena, surfactants, colloids, microfluidics
- Laboratory experience (ideally pipetting, plate-reader handling, video microscopy)
- Proficient in MS Office Word, Excel, Powerpoint
- Willing to assist with other duties as assigned.

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OTHER OPEN POSITIONS: Optical Engineer, Product Design Engineer, Microfluidics Applications Engineer.

To APPLY: http://www.liquid-logic.com/jobs.html
 

Postdoctoral and Post-Master's Research Associates Program

Are you graduating soon with a Master's degree or Ph.D. in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) field? Oak Ridge National Laboratory currently has over 100 openings in our Postdoc and Post-Master's Research Associates Program.

The Postdoctoral and Post-Master's Research Associates Program is open to recent Ph.D. and Master's graduates (within 5 years of graduation) who are interested in gaining experience at a National Laboratory. Appointments in the program are for 1-year with the possibility of renewal for up to 3 additional years. Selected individuals receive a competitive salary, relocation assistance, benefits, and if needed immigration work authorization (H1B for themselves and H4 for family members).

Each position in the program is project specific. We invite you to search our current list of openings at http://www.orau.org/ornl/postdocs/ornl-pd-pm/default.aspx. The list is searchable by keyword and each posting will include detailed qualifications and application information. We currently have over 100 active postings.

Most of the positions are open to non-US Citizens. If there is a citizenship restriction it will be listed in the posting.

To Apply: Once you have identified the position(s) you are interested, you must apply online at https://www2.orau.gov/ORNL_POST/. All applicants will need to register before they can begin the online application.

All information is available online, if you have trouble viewing it contact: ornledu@orau.org.
 

Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity in Oncology at CHOP

A postdoctoral fellow position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Tom Curran at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, an interdisciplinary institution dedicated to conducting basic, clinical and translational research on conditions and diseases that affect children.

The postdoc candidate will investigate the role of two growth control genes, Crk and Crk-like (CrkL), in normal growth and development as well as in cancer cells. The strategy involves the use of genetic techniques to remove Crk and CrkL from different kinds of cells, in culture and in mice, and then to examine the consequences for a variety of biological processes. We are using a combination of molecular, biochemical, cell biological and genetic approaches to unravel the mechanisms responsible for cell growth and migration.

JOB SUMMARY

The postdoctoral fellow (postdoc) will have a terminal degree PhD, MD, DVM, etc. and will, under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator) assume responsibility for a specific, on-going research project. The postdoc experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden his/her scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that this individual will conduct independent scholarly research, and will contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group. Postdocs will be expected to participate in project planning, recording and interpretation/evaluation of data, and communication of results. Postdocs will also be expected to acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. Postdoctoral fellows also may be required to supervise junior lab members, develop new methods and protocols for research, and assist with the development of other research projects in the lab.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
· Strong research skills
· Effective problem solving/critical thinking skills
· Ability to work independently and to exercise discretion andjudgment
· Value for research integrity and collaborative research
· High level of motivation
· Good communication and strong interpersonal skills

Postdoctoral fellows at the CHOP Research Institute receive mentored
training in a rich scientific and collaborative environment that includes
the resources of the adjacent University of Pennsylvania.

For more info on Dr. Curran's lab: http://www.research.chop.edu/research/profiles/index.php?ID=927266
Applicants must have a doctoral degree in biomedical sciences and a strong background in either cell biology or molecular biology. Additional experience with mouse genetics is desirable.

Interested individuals should submit their resume to: http://www.research.chop.edu/careers/
 

Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity in Oncology at CHOP

A postdoctoral fellow position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Tom Curran at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute, an interdisciplinary institution dedicated to conducting basic, clinical and translational research on conditions and diseases that affect children.

The postdoc candidate will investigate the role of two growth control genes, Crk and Crk-like (CrkL), in normal growth and development as well as in cancer cells. The strategy involves the use of genetic techniques to remove Crk and CrkL from different kinds of cells, in culture and in mice, and then to examine the consequences for a variety of biological processes. We are using a combination of molecular, biochemical, cell biological and genetic approaches to unravel the mechanisms responsible for cell growth and migration.

JOB SUMMARY

The postdoctoral fellow (postdoc) will have a terminal degree PhD, MD, DVM, etc. and will, under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator) assume responsibility for a specific, on-going research project. The postdoc experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden his/her scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that this individual will conduct independent scholarly research, and will contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group. Postdocs will be expected to participate in project planning, recording and interpretation/evaluation of data, and communication of results. Postdocs will also be expected to acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. Postdoctoral fellows also may be required to supervise junior lab members, develop new methods and protocols for research, and assist with the development of other research projects in the lab.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
· Strong research skills
· Effective problem solving/critical thinking skills
· Ability to work independently and to exercise discretion andjudgment
· Value for research integrity and collaborative research
· High level of motivation
· Good communication and strong interpersonal skills

Postdoctoral fellows at the CHOP Research Institute receive mentored
training in a rich scientific and collaborative environment that includes
the resources of the adjacent University of Pennsylvania.

For more info on Dr. Curran's lab: http://www.research.chop.edu/research/profiles/index.php?ID=927266
Applicants must have a doctoral degree in biomedical sciences and a strong background in either cell biology or molecular biology. Additional experience with mouse genetics is desirable.

Interested individuals should submit their resume to: http://www.research.chop.edu/careers/

 

Scientist, Immunoassay Development Lead – RNAi Lead Development

Overview:

Alnylam is a well established, mid-sized biotechnology company in Cambridge MA, focused on the discovery and development of RNAi therapeutics. The RNAi Lead Development (RLD) Team is seeking a highly motivated cellular immunologist or molecular biologist with proven abilities in the development, design, execution, supervision, analysis, interpretation, and communication of immunology in vitro and in vivo assays in a screening environment. The Immunoassay Development (IAD) Lead will develop, optimize, and implement medium to high throughput oligonucleotide-based immunoassays to screen a variety of candidate RNAi compounds and delivery modalities and manage a significant volume of in vitro cell biology activities

Summary of Key Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include:

  • Strategic planning and coordination of activities
  • Management of junior staff
  • Hands-on assay development and execution
  • Literature review
  • Timely delivery of presentations.

The individual will work closely with multiple project teams across various therapeutic areas.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish top-notch collaboration(s) with the goals of augmenting existing resources in support of various projects and partnerships and driving provocative, highly publishable research.

Qualifications:

Key Requirements

  • Ph.D. in Immunology, or a related field
  • At least six years experience in immunoassay development and tissue culture
  • Expertise in in vivo modeling is highly desirable.
  • Knowledge of methods such as ELISA, ELISpot, FACS analysis, taqman and PBMC assays is required
  • Experience with medium to high throughput screening and automation preferred
  • Superior communication, organization, follow-through, and presentations skills are a must.

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is an AA/EEO employer committed to an exciting, diverse, and enriching work environment.

Apply for this job:

 

The Future Faculty Career Exploration Program at RIT

The Future Faculty Career Exploration Program is one of a series of recruitment strategies designed to fuel the future pipeline of faculty at RIT. This innovative program furthers RIT's goal of "Grow Your Own" future faculty by bringing in students, nearing the end of their doctoral studies, for an all-expense-paid trip to Rochester to receive the "RIT Treatment." We also welcome applications from those that have completed their degrees and junior faculty. Our program has been referred to as 'TIRIT' Total Immersion in RIT by a previous FFCEP participant and RIT boasts several successful hires as a result.

Program Objectives

Program Benefits

The Future Faculty Career Exploration Program is a unique and exciting opportunity to explore potential faculty career choices at RIT through:

Eligibility

Application Deadline: June 1, 2011 for upcoming program. Invitations to participate are sent at the end of July. FFCEP 2011 will be held September 28 through October 2, 2011.


This program allows RIT deans to engage prospects in discussions about their academic work and career interests. It allows faculty to share RIT's teaching and research agenda and to dialog on current open faculty positions or those that may be available in the near future. During previous programs, RIT hosted students from top colleges and universities such as Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Columbia, Berkeley, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Cornell, among others. If selected to participate in the program, individuals are eligible for an all-expense-paid trip to visit RIT and Rochester, NY.


 

How to Manage a Lab: Video on Duke Postdoc Youtube Channel



On Tuesday, March 29, 2011, a panel discussion geared toward Duke graduate students and postdocs on managing a science lab took place at Duke University. For scientists conducting laboratory-based research, effective lab management can be as crucial to career success as the research itself.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Postdoctoral Fellowships support EERE's mission in energy efficiency and renewable energy by offering recent Ph.D. recipients the opportunity to conduct applied research at universities, national laboratories, and other research facilities.

The objective of the EERE Postdoctoral Fellowships is to create the next generation of scientific leaders in energy efficiency and renewable energy by attracting the best scientists and engineers to pursue breakthrough technologies in a highly prestigious postdoctoral research program. To meet this objective, EERE Fellows will have access to unique education and training opportunities, top scientists in their field, and state-of-the-art projects and equipment. As a result, innovative technologies will be developed that will have a real impact on the economy by providing energy efficient and affordable technologies; in the environment by providing clean energy technologies; and in the quality of life for all Americans by enhancing their energy choices.

Applications are now available
The application deadline is June 30, 2011

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) works to strengthen the United States' energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships. EERE's research and development mission is supported by a portfolio of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

The EERE Postdoctoral Fellowships are sponsored by the following EERE Programs:

Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy

Research opportunities will be awarded to qualified applicants to work on collaborative applied research of mutual interest to the applicant, the host facility, and the EERE Program sponsoring the Fellowship.

The Fellowship award will provide an annual stipend, allowances for health insurance and research-related expenses, and limited reimbursement for relocation expenses. An Annual Research Meeting for Fellows will be organized and hosted by EERE. The EERE Postdoctoral Fellowships are administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) in collaboration with EERE. ORISE is responsible for the implementation of the program, processing applications, the review and notification processes, and management of payments to Fellows.

Fellowships are for two years. Fellows will receive the following benefits during each Fellowship year:

Postdoctoral Stipend

Fellows will receive a yearly stipend of $65,000. Stipend payments will be made monthly via electronic funds transfer into a single financial account.

Health Insurance

A stipend supplement will be provided to cover the cost of the individual or family health insurance plan offered by Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), which includes medical coverage and a prescription drug plan.

Relocation Travel

Relocation expenses, not to exceed $5,000, incurred in relocating from the Fellow's current address to the vicinity of the research facility (if more than 50 miles from the address shown on the application form), may be reimbursed. Relocation expenses may include transportation, shipment of household goods within the United States, temporary lodging, and per diem. Reimbursements are governed by federal travel regulations and the ORISE Travel Policy.

Research Allowance

Fellows will receive a research allowance of $10,000 per Fellowship year to cover expenses related to their research and/or to scientific and professional development activities. The research allowance may be used for the following purposes:

Annual EERE Research Meeting

The Fellow's travel and accommodations to an Annual Research Meeting will be provided. This meeting will be organized and hosted by EERE. The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for 2012.

All application materials must be submitted by June 30, 2011. For documents submitted by postal mail, this is a postmark deadline.

Guidelines for Submitting an Application

  1. Familiarize yourself with the Fellowship benefits, obligations, eligibility requirements, and evaluation criteria.

    Familiarize yourself with the requirements and obligations to determine whether your education and professional goals are well aligned with the EERE Postdoctoral Fellowships. Read the Evaluation Criteria that will be used to evaluate your application. It is your responsibility to ensure that sufficient details are provided in your application to address these criteria.

  2. Review the list of research topics.

    Fellowships will be awarded to applicants interested in pursuing applied research in topics of interest to the EERE Programs sponsoring the Fellowship. Review the topics closely to find topics that best match your research interest.

  3. Identify research facilities and potential research mentors currently conducting or directing research in an area related to the research topic selected.

    Note that some projects are affiliated with specific research facilities and mentors. In those cases, facility/mentor information is provided with the research topic. Communicate directly with the research mentor before writing a proposal and submitting an application. See Research Mentors for detailed information about the expectations and responsibilities of research mentors.

  4. Discuss research proposal with selected research mentor and obtain approval from research mentor to submit an application.
  5. Gather application materials and submit all application components by June 30, 2011.

    To ensure that your application is submitted correctly and on time, allow sufficient time to gather necessary information and provide your responses. See Application Components for a detailed description of all the documents needed to complete the application package and instructions for the submission of these documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered. A checklist of the application componentsPDF will assist you in gathering the information necessary to complete the application package.

Contact the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) at EEREpostdocs@orise.orau.gov to check the receipt status of your application and of the application components submitted on your behalf.



 

Announcing New Program: ACLS Public Fellows

Fellowship Details

  • Stipend: $50,000 - $78,000 dependent on position. Health benefits will also be provided.
  • Tenure: Two years; start dates will vary but range from September 2011 to as late as February 2012 (if security clearance is necessary)
  • The only way to apply for these positions is through the ACLS Online Fellowship Application system (ofa.acls.org). Please do not contact any of the agencies directly.
  • Application deadline: May 16, 2011, 3pm (EDT)
  • Notification of application status will occur early July 2011.
ACLS invites applications for the inaugural competition of its Public Fellows program. The program will place eight recent Ph.D.s in staff positions at partnering agencies in government and the non-profit sector for two years, beginning in some cases as early as September 2011. Fellows will participate in the substantive work of these agencies and receive professional mentoring. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and at the same level as new professional employees of the hosting agency and will include health insurance.

This program, made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, aims to demonstrate that the capacities developed in the advanced study of the humanities have wide application, both within and beyond the academy.

ACLS seeks applications from recent Ph.D.s who wish to begin careers in administration, management, and public service by choice rather than circumstance. Competitive applicants will have been successful in both academic and extra-academic experiences.

Applicants must:

  1. possess U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status
  2. have a Ph.D. in the humanities or humanistic social sciences conferred between January 2008 and March 2011
  3. not have applied to any other ACLS Fellowship programs in the 2010-2011 competition year, including the New Faculty Fellows program

Prospective applicants should read through all the positions listed below and be ready to choose one when beginning the online application process. Applicants may apply to only one position. The deadline for submitted applications is Monday, May 16, 3pm EDT, and complete applications will include: (1) completed application form; (2) cover letter tailored to a specific position; (3) resume; (4) candidate statement; and (5) one nomination letter. The only way to apply for these positions is through the ACLS Public Fellows program. Only complete applications, submitted through the ACLS Online Fellowship Application system (ofa.acls.org) by the deadline will be considered.

Submitted applications will undergo ACLS’ standard rigorous peer review process, which may include interviews by ACLS and by the hosting agency. Reviewers will look for: (a) applicant’s academic accomplishment and success; (b) demonstrated relationship between past experience and specified position; and (c) commitment to the public and/or non-profit sector. Applicants who advance to the interview stages will need to be available in the timeframe listed below.


Interviews: mid to late June
Notification of application
status (by email):
early July
These dates are subject to revision. Please check back.


Participating Agencies and Positions

Click on the positions to view the PDF of the full description, which includes detailed information on the hosting agency, the position, and requisite qualifications. Please do not contact any of these agencies with questions (i.e., on the position, benefits, etc.).

  1. Association of American Universities (AAU)
    Policy Analyst
  2. Council on Foundations
    Leadership Development Officer
  3. Institute for International Education (IIE)
    Program Officer, Scholar Rescue Fund
  4. National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE)
    Program Officer
  5. New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
    Cultural Programs Specialist
    Cultural Communications Specialist
  6. U.S. Department of State
    two positions, various departments

ACLS will field only questions about the fellowship program itself and not on the positions or the organizations. Please carefully review the program description, the positions, and the sample application before contacting ACLS. Questions about the fellowship program can be directed in writing to fellowships@acls.org (no calls please).


Saturday, April 9, 2011

 

2011 NCBC Industrial Fellowship Program

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center (www.ncbiotech.org) is pleased to announce that the following five North Carolina life sciences companies have been chosen as sponsors for the year 2011 of the NCBC Industrial Fellowship Program:

Liquidia Technologies
Parion Sciences
GlaxoSmithKline
SePRO Corporation
KeraNetics, LLC

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Industrial Fellowship Program provides the state’s Ph.D. scientists with an opportunity to gain industry experience and companies to benefit from new talent and expertise. The program is for recent doctoral graduates and postdoctoral fellows who would like to transition from academia to permanent employment in the state’s life sciences industry.

The Industrial Fellowship Program provides two years of funding for a scientist to work as an employee at a sponsoring company. A sponsoring company is a biotechnology R&D or contract research company with research operations in North Carolina. The company must have a senior scientist on staff to provide industry-oriented scientific mentorship.

Scientists who participate in the program gain industrial scientific experience and learn about the non-technical business activities associated with technology commercialization. Over the course of their fellowship, scientists will:

Biotechnology Center and Company Contributions

The Biotechnology Center provides a significant part of salary and benefit support to the fellows. The sponsoring company is expected to provide a portion of the salary (see table below). The salary for a first-year fellow is $40,000 and $12,000 for benefits for a total funding of $52,000 per year. It is assumed that second-year fellows will receive a 3 percent cost-of-living increase.

Company Employee Size

Company Contribution

Biotechnology Center Contribution toward salary and benefits

Total Funding

1 to 25

$5,000

$35,000 + $12,000

$52,000

26 to 100

$10,000

$30,000 + $12,000

$52,000

more than 100

$15,000

$25,000 + $12,000

$52,000

Application Deadlines

Five fellowship positions are available for each annual program cycle. For 2011, the following deadlines apply:

Company application deadline:

February 25, 2011

Biotechnology Center will review applications and pick five companies for 2011:

March 25, 2011

Candidate application deadline:

April 29, 2011

Biotechnology Center will forward resume of candidates to company:

May 2, 2011

Company will conduct interviews and make decision:

June 15, 2011

Fellow will start program at company:

July 18, 2011

Learn More

For questions about the NCBC Industrial Fellowship Program, please contact Shobha Parthasarathi at (919) 541-9366, or e-mail ncbcfellowship@ncbiotech.org.


 

14th Annual NIEHS Biomedical Career Fair

April 29, 2011

Location:

EPA Campus Main Building (Building C) Exit NIEHS
109 T.W. Alexander Drive
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Map of EPA conference facilities

What is the NIEHS Biomedical Career Fair?

The annual NIEHS Biomedical Career Fair, now in its 14th year, is one of the largest assemblies of biomedical organizations and young scientists in Research Triangle Park, NC. Targeting postdoctoral fellows and advanced graduate students, the Career Fair provides these young scientists an opportunity to explore a myriad of fields and create a contact network as they plan for their future careers in the biomedical sciences.

Please feel free to contact us at careerfairchairs@niehs.nih.gov with any questions.

Come Prepared

Bring your updated CV/Resume for onsite review with one of our professional reviewers (on site sign up).


Time Event
7:45 - 8:45 Registration and Continental Breakfast (Building C Rotunda)
Sign up for CV/Resume Reviews
8:45 - 9:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks (Room C111-ABC)
Corinne Zeller-Knuth, Ph.D., Co-Chair NIEHS Career Fair Committee
William T. Schrader, Ph.D., Deputy Scientific Director, NIEHS, NIH
9:00 - 10:25 Session I (concurrent sessions)
  1. Panel: Navigating the Process: Academia (Room C112)
  2. Panel: Navigating the Process: Government (Room C113)
  3. Workshop: Planning for Career Satisfaction & Success (Room C114)
  4. Workshop: The Job Search, Cover Letters, CVs, and Resumes (Room C111-A)

CV/Resume Consultations (B Atrium)

Visit Company Exhibits (Lakeside Hallway)

10:25 - 10:45 Coffee Break
10:45 - 11:45 Keynote Address (Room C111-ABC)
Richard Weibl
Director, Center for Careers in Science and Technology
American Association for the Advancement of Science
11:45 - 12:45 Lunch (Rooms C111-ABC, C112, C113, C114, B Atrium)
12:50 - 1:30 Session II: Non-Traditional Careers (concurrent sessions)
  1. Grant Management (Room C111-A)
  2. Finance and Venture Capital (Room C111-B)
  3. Patents and Law (Room C111-C)
  4. Non-Profit Organizations (Room C112)
  5. Consulting & Business Development (Room C113)
  6. Science Policy (Room C114)

CV/Resume Consultations (B Atrium)

Visit Company Exhibits (Lakeside Hallway)

1:35 - 2:15 Session III: Non-Traditional Careers (concurrent sessions)
  1. Program Management (Room C111-A)
  2. Entrepreneurs and Business (Room C111-B)
  3. Tech Transfer (Room C111-C)
  4. Science Outreach (Room C112)
  5. Media and Communication (Room C113)
  6. Clinical Research (Room C114)

CV/Resume Consultations (Atrium)

Visit Company Exhibits (Lakeside Hallway)

2:15 - 3:25 Networking Dessert Reception (C111-ABC, B Atrium)
3:30 - 5:00 Session IV (concurrent sessions)
  1. Panel: Navigating the Process: Industry and Biotech (Room C111-A)
  2. Panel: Finding and Applying for Fellowships (Room C112)
  3. Workshop: Networking: A Tool for Building Relationships and Exploring Career Options (Room C113)
  4. Workshop: Interviewing & Negotiating an Offer (Room C114)

CV/Resume Consultations (B Atrium)

Visit Company Exhibits (Lakeside Hallway)


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