Postdoctoral Fellow - Doerfler Lab

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Versiti Blood Research Institute (VBRI) is the largest blood-focused research institute in the United States. With over 30 basic, translational, and clinical investigators, the institute is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and developing innovative therapies related to blood and blood disorders. The institute's research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including transfusion medicine, cellular therapy, thrombosis/hemostasis, immunology, and hematologic malignancies. As a vital part of Versiti, a non-profit organization with a blood bank at its core, the VBRI strives to improve lives through innovative research and the development of novel diagnostics and treatments.

VBRI is part of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Campus, a rapidly growing clinical-translational research hub. VBRI’s proximity to the Medical College of Wisconsin, Childrens’ Hospital of Wisconsin, and Froedtert Hospital facilitates seamless interdisciplinary collaborations. A range of exemplary core facilities support highly competitive research. In the summer of 2024, construction of a new research building began, doubling existing VBRI research space to enable the recruitment of 10-15 new faculty. With its renowned researchers, strategic expansion plans and location in a highly collaborative environment, the VBRI is poised to maintain and expand its position as one of the leading hematology institutes in the world.

Under the direction of a Principal Investigator, further develops and expands understanding of scientific theory in his/her area of interest. Incumbent also learns and applies scientific laboratory techniques and gains experience in other areas of research that will lead to increased probability of success as an independent scientist. This is a training position with an expected duration of 1 – 3 years. 

The Doerfler Lab is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to join a research program focused on the molecular regulation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in sickle cell disease (SCD). The lab integrates functional genomics, single-cell multi-omics, and genome engineering to study how regulatory elements at the β-globin locus control γ-globin expression and its variability across erythroid cells. This work combines mechanistic biology with translational relevance, leveraging primary human samples and collaborative clinical cohorts.

The postdoctoral fellow will lead projects aimed at defining how chromatin organization and cis-regulatory architecture influence HbF expression. This includes applying and integrating bulk and single-cell sequencing approaches (e.g., RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, multiome) with CRISPR-based perturbation in erythroid systems.

The role is designed for a scientist who wants to develop independence in both experimental design and data interpretation. The fellow will work closely with the PI while taking intellectual ownership of their project, contributing to study design, analysis, and overall scientific direction.

• →PhD or equivalent degree required

• 0 – 6 years of postdoctoral training required

• Demonstrated ability to independently apply understanding of scientific theory to the structure and execution of research experiments. required
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and explain the theoretical basis of the work performed. required
• Ability to perform research procedures independently. required
• Immediate proficiency in basic and sophisticated experimental tests and procedures. required
• Exceptional organizational skills. required
• Strong detail orientation and analytical ability. required
• Excellent problem solving skills. required
• Ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks and meet deadlines. required
• Computer literate with an emphasis on graphics, graphing, data management, and statistical applications required

• Specialized research equipment required
• Personal computer required

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