"Postdoctoral Associate - Bioengineering"

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Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

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About George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing:

The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing ranks among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff, and students in an inclusive environment.

We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought, and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.

Position Summary:

The Mikos Lab in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University is looking to hire a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the field of tissue engineering. They are seeking an innovative and collaborative postdoctoral scholar to develop decellularized extracellular matrix 3D-printed biomaterial scaffolds for translational applications. This project will involve a cross-institutional effort to develop and translate novel tissue-engineering approaches into the clinic.

This position will focus on designing and 3D-printing complex biomaterial structures, evaluating biomaterial mechanical, compositional, and degradation properties to inform in vitro and in vivo studies. Additionally, the scholar will be working closely with others in the Mikos Lab and collaborators across institutions, including researchers and clinicians, to assist in biomaterial translation.

The ideal candidate will have training in bioengineering, chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, or related disciplines who is motivated, independent and who works well in a team comprised of individuals of diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. The candidate should be passionate about leading interdisciplinary projects with a focus on translation.

More information about the Mikos lab can be found here: https://mikoslab.rice.edu

Workplace Requirements:

This is an in person, on campus position. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range:

$65,000 – $67,000

This is a one-year, full-time, benefits-eligible position funded by grant support. Renewal is contingent upon satisfactory performance and the continued availability of funding. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Additional information:

The position is available to begin immediately and will remain open until filled or until April 2026, whichever comes first. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for full consideration.

Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in bioengineering, chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, or related disciplines
• No experience required

Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present research findings and complex concepts to diverse audiences
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Knowledge of modern research methods, data collection, and analyses
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of the subject discipline
• Familiarity with writing scholarly papers based on ongoing research and submitting them to journals for publication
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment
• Ability to work independently and professionally with minimal supervision and direction

Preferences:

• Familiarity with tissue decellularization and processing
• Experience with common biomaterial functionalization techniques and chemistries
• Experience with biomaterial characterization techniques

Essential Functions:

• Fabricates, functionalizes, and 3D-prints extracellular matrix-based scaffolds
• Investigates the role of 3D-printed scaffold parameters on mechanical properties
• Studies the effects of 3D-printed scaffold parameters on degradation characteristics
• Documents, analyzes, and maintains research data
• Assists with proposal development to obtain research funding
• Mentors, oversees, and/or trains junior research team members
• Publishes and presents research findings
• Supports project management and collaboration across institutions or disciplines
• Designs and implements research protocols; adapts new procedures, methods or instrumentation relative to research procedures
• Performs all other duties as assigned

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