About this role
Job Summary Postdoctoral Research Associate in Oral Delivery, Epithelial Transport, and Nanocarrier Biology Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in Dr. Raluca Ostafe’s laboratory in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University. The position is part of a newly funded Wellcome Leap Focused Antibiotics project developing nanoparticle-mediated antibiotic delivery systems for site-directed treatment of infection while protecting the gut microbiome. The successful candidate will lead in vitro biological evaluation of oral nanocarrier delivery, including post-enteric stability, epithelial interaction, gut-uptake ligand testing, epithelial transport, and barrier-integrity assessment. The work will include Caco-2 and/or related intestinal epithelial models, Transwell transport assays, TEER measurements, paracellular tracer assays, imaging/flow cytometry-based uptake assays, and evaluation of nanocarrier stability and biological compatibility under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. We provide: Salary and health insurance benefits An intellectually stimulating, interdisciplinary, and supportive research environment Opportunity to work on a large translational project at the interface of microfluidics, nanomedicine, antimicrobial delivery, and infectious disease Access to advanced instrumentation and collaborative expertise across Purdue and external partners In addition to completing this online application, interested individuals should submit the following documents, preferably as one PDF file, to Dr. Raluca Ostafe at [email protected] Cover letter Curriculum vitae Names and contact information of three references Purdue University is a public land-grant university and a tier 1 research institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. West Lafayette is a thriving and diverse community with excellent schools, located one hour north of Indianapolis and two hours south of Chicago. Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Education The successful candidate: Has a Ph.D. in cell biology, microbiology, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, immunology, molecular biology, or a related field Experience The successful candidate: Has experience with mammalian cell culture and quantitative cell-based assays Has experience with epithelial barrier models, Transwell assays, TEER, permeability assays, microscopy, or flow cytometry Is able to develop, validate, and troubleshoot reproducible in vitro assays Is self-motivated, organized, and able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team Experience with intestinal epithelial models, Caco-2/HT29-MTX systems, nanoparticle uptake, drug transport, or host–microbe interface assays is preferred FLSA Status Exempt