Postdoctoral Fellow, Noncommunicable Diseases, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Postdoctoral Fellow, Noncommunicable Diseases, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Entity            Medical College

Location        Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction    Aga Khan University chartered in 1983 as Pakistan's first private international university, is committed to the provision of education, research, and health care of international standards relevant to Pakistan and the region. The affiliated Aga Khan University Hospital provides state-of-the-art clinical facilities and well-equipped diagnostic services. The University currently has teaching sites in Pakistan, East Africa, the United Kingdom, and Afghanistan, and is a major component of Aga Khan Development Network.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

Consistent with the mission of the Aga Khan University (AKU), the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) strives for excellence in research, education and training. The department is committed to the development of innovative aspects of relevant, thematic research in basic and applied health sciences. 

The University invites outstanding candidates well-grounded in biological and / or health sciences, who are strongly motivated for research to apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in BBS, to work within the department's programmatic research focus on Non-Communicable Diseases, specifically aimed at developing 3D cancer tissue models using hydrogels to explore nano-bio interactions and assess mechanisms of resistance to various cancer therapeutic modalities. He/she will have the opportunity to develop their own professional and research skill set and emerge as an independent researcher.The position will be for a period of two years from the date of appointment, renewable for one more year if there is a justified need. 

The Postdoctoral Fellowship is a fulltime appointment, which will require working within the department’s programmatic research focus and developing her or his own professional and research skills, with the intention of emerging as an independent researcher. Selected candidates will be part of a multi-disciplinary team which collectively builds critical capacity in disease modelling.  

ResponsibilitiesThe incumbent be involved in planning justifiable activities and hands-on bench research. Specifically, you will be responsible to:

• participate in multidisciplinary research in non-communicable diseases which involves collaboration within and outside BBS faculty
• write and publish research papers in peer-reviewed journals, highlighting findings from research and experimental activities.
• present research results at meetings and engage in result publication
• assist supervisory team in procuring research funding, particularly international competitively funded grants in cooperation with the Research Office
• draft applications for submitting research proposals to Department Research Committee/Ethical Review Committee
• establish collaborative research linkages with other institutions to foster research
• collaborate resources to complete research plan
• oversee the performance team’s junior members and technologists and support their professional development.

RequirementsYou should have:

• a Ph.D. in Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Nanotechnology, Cell & Molecular Biology or a relevant field
• experience in organoids development
• experience of working with physical modalities like ionizing radiation is preferable but not necessary
• strong understanding of nanomaterials (synthesis and development) especially related to drug delivery and therapeutic applications
• strong proficiency in techniques including advanced imaging such as STEM, fluorescent/confocal microscopy, cell culture, characterization of nanoparticles and biomaterials, and molecular biology assays
• demonstrated ability to independently design and execute experiments
• ability to work in a challenging environment
• excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• ability to multi-task several projects and work in fast-paced environment
• proven ability to work well with a certain degree of autonomy and function successfully in a team environment.

Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.