Postdoctoral Fellow, CRM Support

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 standard relevant to Pakistan and the region. The affiliated Aga Khan University Hospital has well-equipped investigative services and provides state-of-the-art clinical facilities. 

The Aga Khan University (AKU) has partnered with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) - an internationally renowned Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research - in developing and evolving CRM. CRM is a state-of-the-art facility to undertake cutting-edge research on stem cells and regenerative medicine. 

We are seeking applications for the position of postdoctoral fellow from exceptional scientists with proven research records. The selected candidate will have the unique opportunity to develop and lead an internationally recognized program focused on stem cell and gene therapy. 

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the relevant faculty and/or the designee, the successful candidate will be expected to develop/continue a vigorous program on stem cells and gene therapy, write grants for funding both nationally and internationally, and work partly independently on different projects related to the field. The candidate will also work closely with a team of dedicated scientists and research staff on projects related to, but not limited to, stem cells or gene therapy.  

The candidate is expected to:

• undertake hands-on bench research 
• organize materials, keep records, and do research on current information and trends in the area
• undertake periodic review and assessment with presentation to the CRM faculty and CRM Director about the progress with the primary investigator/research fellow
• contribute to course material and resource development of the CRM
• provide regular progress reports to the team lead of the research project and keeping track of it
• apply and maintain the highest laboratory, health & safety protocols and ethical standards set out by the CRM in line with international protocol
• aid administration by giving suggestions on ways to improve the quality of the research laboratories, resources, and methods to make laboratory and research systems more effective
• build an image for the programme and addressing ethical concerns
• act as the team lead for coordinating efforts in the research project and ensuring meeting of timelines
• develop and participate in a cooperative team-based culture
• aid research fellows and students in preparing projects
• ensure all research is up to international standards and is in accordance with the standards set by UCSF/AKU
• create a collaborative environment that is cross-faculty on international and national levels thereby contributing to educational innovation and impact
• provide suggestions in developing policies and ethical processes of international standards pertaining to research conduct, stem cell line development, and maintaining stem cell lines and laboratory equipment.

Requirements:

Candidates must have:

• a PhD in the relevant subject area or have submitted your PhD for examination
• demonstrated outstanding achievement in a relevant biomedical subject area. This includes stem cell biology, CAR-T cell therapy, nanomedicine, gene therapy, and genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 technology
• experience in clinical translational research with stem cell therapeutics would be an asset
• passion for research and bench-side experience
• extensive firsthand laboratory experience
• relevant publications in journals of international repute
• good communication skills and fluency in spoken and written English.

Comprehensive employment checks will be conducted.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.