The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in the College of Engineering, and the Philips Institute for Oral Health Research at the School of Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University, seek culturally and professionally diverse candidates to apply for the Postdoctoral Research Associate - Antimicrobial Material Development and Biomechanical Measurements position. The successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to develop and expand upon a diversified technical skill set while making a positive contribution to the areas of biomaterials, biomechanics, and biofilms.
Since its inception in 1996, the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering has brought innovative, real-world engineering education to Central Virginia. Comprised of five different departments plus the Dean’s office, the College of Engineering enrolls more than 1,700 undergraduate and 250 graduate students in several degree programs supported by approximately 600 full-time, part-time, and student employees. As part of a premier research university known for tenacity, love of the city of Richmond, and commitment to diversity and access, the College of Engineering values the significant and positive impact of our people and ideas in the promotion of regional and global prosperity involving research and life sciences.
Position Responsibilities:
Research projects for this candidate will involve the development of novel antimicrobial materials with a focus on the design of antimicrobial surfaces, systematic material characterization, and measurements of the interactions and transport behaviors of bacterial cells on different material surfaces. The candidate will also participate in projects related to oral biofilms. The candidate expects to use the experimental and/or modeling approaches in these projects. In addition, the candidate will be required to summarize the research results, write journal articles, and help with proposal writing.
The ideal candidate shall have a strong educational background in chemistry, materials science, mechanical or chemical engineering. Preference will be given to candidates with extensive experience in antimicrobial material synthesis and characterization, ability to perform biomechanical measurements using atomic force microscopy (AFM), biofilm growth and analysis, and demonstrated experience in the journal publication.
Required Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, or similar fields
-Extensive experience in antimicrobial material synthesis and characterization
- Strong experimental skills in force measurements of bacterial cell-material surface by atomic force microscopy (AFM) or similar techniques
-Experience in transport kinetics measurements of particles/bacterial cells by particle image velocimetry (PIV), microfluidics, or similar techniques
-Experience in biofilm growth, quantification, and analysis
- Demonstrated ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and short turnaround times
- Ability to mentor team members and ensure the highest levels of laboratory safety
- The College of Engineering at VCU champions diversity, equity and inclusion in all that we do. Cultivating an ecosystem where differences are celebrated and our faculty, staff, and students have the opportunity to thrive is at the core of how we operate. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience that shows their commitment to fostering such an environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
The candidate should be able to independently establish experimental systems to develop and evaluate the performance of antimicrobial materials. The candidate has demonstrated the experiences and qualifications described in the job description, as well as a proven track record of publishing in SCI journals.
About the College of Engineering:
The College of Engineering’s mission is to create and grow a diverse community of exceptional students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners that strive to create a common future for all where innovative, sustainable, and equitable solutions to global engineering challenges are realized for the benefit of this generation and future generations. Additional information about the department’s programs and faculty may be found at https://egr.vcu.edu/departments/mechanical/.
FLSA Status: Exempt
ORP Eligible: Yes