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Hinton Lab

Post-doctoral Researcher

Home Department:
Hinton Lab in Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt University invites applications for a Postdoctoral position for the 2021 academic year.

Research Interests:
The Hinton lab aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that regulate molecule transfer and morphology changes between the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum and how these mechanisms are altered during pathophysiological states, particularly diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Title:
Post-doctoral Researcher

Salary:
This a 100 percent time appointment with a full-time annual salary.

Benefits:
This position includes the fringe benefits described in the Vanderbilt Human Resources webpage for a postdoctoral position. Please contact HR for more information about this.

Duration:
The Postdoctoral position is a 1-year contract position and can be renewed yearly based on performance for 3 years. The 1-year position will be contingent upon your training progress, the laboratory needs, and satisfactory performance. As long as the appointment continues, a yearly evaluation will take place to discuss goals and aspirations for the following year.

Appointment Requirements:
This position is contingent upon completion of the requirements for the Ph.D. Candidates who have completed a PhD in Physiology, Biophysics, Cell Biology, molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and/or  related fields are eligible. The ideal candidate will have to demonstrate a commitment to excellence in research, has prior teaching experiences, e-learning experience, and mentoring experience at the undergraduate and graduate level. The position requires at least one first author publication and one co-author publication for new Ph.D. graduates. If a current postdoc is applying for a second postdoc with the Hinton lab, the Postdoc is required to have one additional first author publication and one co-author publication, for a least a total of 4 publications.

Training for Applicant:
We will learn various techniques that include primary cell isolation, bioinformatics programming for large data sets, in vitro exercise, confocal/STED microscopy, TEM analysis, 3D EM microscopy techniques, and various forms of image analysis. Additionally, we will utilize primary and human cell lines, mouse, and fly model organisms to delineate pathophysiological states.

Cultural Competency and Mentoring for Applicant:
The Hinton lab seeks a staff scientist that is committed to being mentored using innovative mentoring tools, such as self-assessment tools (e.g. implicit bias training, personality test, learning styles, and love language test), mentoring maps, individual development training plan, career development activities, and cultural competence training. Additionally, the Hinton lab seeks applicants with enthusiasm for working with a diverse student population, and welcome applicants who are interested in engaging and training undergraduate and graduate students.  Importantly, the Hinton lab is made up a diverse group of individuals and the Hinton lab strongly encourages applications from candidates with a record of experience or demonstrated a commitment to working with all backgrounds, including but not limited to: racial and ethnic minorities, women, individuals who identify with LGBTQ+ communities, individuals with disabilities, individuals from lower income backgrounds, and/or first-generation college graduates.

Additional Qualifications (Optional):

  • Expertise in making primary cells
  • Expertise in cell culture and primary cell culture
  • Experience in animal studies.
  • Experience working with Drosophila
  • Expertise in Transmission Electron Microscopy
  • Expertise in Serial Block Facing Microscopy or Focus Ion Bean Microscopy
  • TEM analysis
  • SBF-SEM or FIB-SEM Segmentation analysis
  • Experience in bioinformatics, programming, or machine learning
  • Experience in light microscopy and cell imaging techniques (fluorescence microscopy).
  • Experience in Proximity Ligation Assay
  • Experience in molecular biology and biochemistry (protein purification, cloning, immunohistochemistry).
  • Experience in Super resolution microscopy
  • Experience in mitochondrial biology/mitochondrial energetics.

To apply email: gprotein86@gmail.com. I will need the following documents to be considered for the postdoc position.

  1. A cover letter stating research interests
  2. A current CV
  3. Contact info for 3 references
  4. 1-page Personal Statement Page detailing your goals
  5. 1-page Research statement Page detailing your past research experiences
  6. 1-page Diversity statement

Responsibilities:

Research, 85%

  • The successful candidate will be given four projects (e.g. a biophysics project focused on mitochondrial networks using 3D Microscopy, a biochemical and cell biology-based project that focuses on the MICOS complex or TMEM 135, and a physiology project that explores insulin resistance, mercs, and mitochondrial dynamics, a second physiology project that explores blood pressure regulation in neurons.
  • The successful candidate will work with the PI to develop and drive the direction of the project.
  • The candidate will also have the opportunity to collaborate within the department as well as with the broader mitochondrial and organelle to organelle contact community.

Professional development, 10%

  • Writing primary manuscripts and literature reviews
  • Engaging in the opportunities and experiences that are required for the candidate to successfully transition to the next stage in their scientific career
  • Attend Mitochondrial Data Group, Attend Diabetes Center Seminar series, Discovery Sciences Emerging Scholars lectures Discovery series, Metabolism Interests Group, and all other designated seminars, conferences, and other scientific educational opportunities
  • Writing fellowships (e.g. Ford Foundation, BWF PDEP, EE Just, F32, K99, AACR, AHA, ADA, etc.)

Career Development, 5%

  • Participate in Networking opportunities
  • Participate in collaborative networking opportunities (e.g., Endocrine Society FLARE Program, NRMN, Summer Institute on Scientific Teaching, sponsored by The National Science Foundation (NSF) and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).
  • Participate in applying to Future Faculty Programs
  • Participate in applying to Writing programs (e.g., ASCB FRED, NRMN Writing Program, NIH NHLBI PRIDE Program)