Postdoctoral Associate

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Surgery within the New Jersey Medical School (NJMS).

The Postdoctoral Associate and Lab Director serves as the primary operational and scientific leader of the Berry Lab (Trauma & Prehospital Equity Research Lab) under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigator, Dr. Cherisse Berry, MD, FACS. This position is responsible for the day-to-day management of a 23-member research laboratory organized across four working groups, overseeing trainee development, research operations, and scientific productivity in support of the lab's NIH-funded research program. The Lab Director serves as the primary point of contact for all lab members and is accountable for the integrity, progress, and coordination of the lab's research portfolio.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Berry Lab, including scheduling, communications, and meeting coordination.
• Serve as the principal liaison between the PI and all lab members, including working group leads, cross-cutting leads, medical students, and faculty collaborators.
• Maintain the lab governance structure, ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities across all working groups (WG1–WG4) and cross-cutting functional tracks.
• Facilitate weekly or biweekly lab meetings, working group check-ins, and mentorship sessions as directed by the PI.
• Maintain lab onboarding materials, standard operating procedures, and governance documentation.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Candidate must hold a M.D. or D.O. and have completed a minimum of two years in post graduate training in surgery residency and have an interest in surgical research.