Open Positions

1.

Postdoctoral Fellow; Botanical Approaches to Combat Metabolic Syndrome

Summary: Applications are invited for a NIH-funded Postdoctoral fellowship Institutional Training Grant entitled “Training in Botanical Approaches to Combat Metabolic Syndrome”. Seeking PhD with biomedical research experience who is interested in conducting research into the use of botanicals to prevent and treat metabolic syndrome. Evidence of productive research experience and skills in scientific writing are highly desirable. Fellowship provides up to three years of funding for training in lab skills and coursework necessary for establishing an independent research career. The candidate will work at Rutgers University under the guidance of Dr. Ilya Raskin in partnership with Pennington Biomedical Research Center of Louisiana State University. The successful applicant will join a well-established, diverse, and collaborative research team, and have access to the resources of two major research universities.

Candidate must be a US citizen or a green card holder.

Candidates must have strong communication and interpersonal skills, a publication record consistent with the position, and an interest in natural products and human health.
Candidates should submit their CV, a cover letter describing research interests and career goals, copy of their PhD degree and list of 3 references to Dr. Mirjana Seskar at mseskar@sebs.rutgers.edu. Review of applications will commence immediately. Candidates must also apply electronically on jobs.rutgers.edu/hr/postings

Key duties: Execution of biological experiments related to obesity and diabetes, and the use of botanicals to attenuate symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome. May perform cell culture, DNA/RNA extraction, RT-PCR, western blotting, protein assay, enzyme activity, ELISA, genotyping, gel electrophoresis, cell viability, transduction and transfection. Prior experience with animal models of human disease, microbiology, 16s rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis is preferred. May perform extraction, isolation, quantification, and characterization of bioactive compounds from plants through various methods of spectrophotometry and chromatography. May conducts acute and chronic in-vivo studies in rodent models, including gavaging, tissue collection and analysis. Training and mentoring of students, and maintenance of laboratory equipment is expected.

Requirements: Candidates must be a US citizen or green card holder. PhD degree in relevant area of biological sciences is required, preferably in the biological sciences; biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, nutritional sciences or food science. Knowledge of the biological effects of phytochemicals and nutrition on the genetic, molecular and physiological aspects of chronic, non-communicable diseases is preferred. Requires good communication skills and computer literacy.

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2.

Postdoctoral Fellow in Natural Product Chemistry

Summary: Applications are invited for a NIH-funded Postdoctoral fellowship Institutional Training Grant
entitled ‘Training in Botanical Approaches to Combat Metabolic Syndrome’. Seeking PhD with
biochemical, biomedical, or analytical chemistry research experience interested in studying the
application of modern methods of mass spectrometry and chromatography to natural product research.
Fellowship provides up to three years of funding for training in lab skills and coursework necessary for
establishing an independent research career. The candidate will work at Rutgers University under the
guidance of Dr. Ilya Raskin (https://sites.rutgers.edu/ilya-raskin-lab/) in partnership with Pennington
Biomedical Research Center of Louisiana State University. The successful applicant will join a well-
established, diverse, and collaborative research team, and have access to the resources of two major
research universities. Candidate must be a US citizen or permanent resident (green card holder).
Candidates should submit their CV, a cover letter describing research interests and career goals, copy of
their PhD degree and list of 3 references to Dr. Mirjana Seskar at mseskar@sebs.rutgers.edu. Review of
applications will commence immediately. Candidates must also apply electronically on
jobs.rutgers.edu/hr/postings

Key duties: Extraction, isolation, quantification, and characterization of bioactive compounds from
plants through mass spectrometry, spectrophotometry, chromatography, and functional assays related
to the role of natural products in treating and preventing metabolic syndrome. Willingness and ability
to train and mentor students is expected.

Requirements: Candidates must be a US citizen or green card holder. PhD degree in analytical
chemistry, biochemistry, natural products chemistry or other closely related field. Knowledge of the
biological effects of phytochemicals on the molecular and physiological aspects of chronic, non-
communicable diseases. Experience with MS instrumentation is highly desirable. Candidates must have
strong communication and interpersonal skills, a publication record consistent with the position, and an
interest in natural products and human health.