Postdoctoral Research Associate – Musculoskeletal Biology

At VCU, we take pride in our deep commitment to our postdoctoral community. In 2026, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) named VCU as one of only 12 recipients of its inaugural Institutional Policy Awards, in recognition of our transformative efforts to elevate quality of life and workplace equity for postdocs.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University, candidates to apply for the Postdoctoral Research Associate – Musculoskeletal Biology.

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 2,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate students in several degree programs supported by more than 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 respect 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.

The Biomedical Engineering Department at Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications from qualified candidates for post-doctoral positions working in the laboratory of Henry J. Donahue, Ph.D. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.  Our laboratory examines, using both in vitro and in vivo models, the cellular and molecular mechanism by which musculoskeletal tissues adapt to the mechanical environment, the role of genetic variability in this process and the effect of metabolic disease on this process. We are most interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas: cell and molecular biology, in vitro and in vivo imaging, especially micro CT, transgenic animal models, and bioinformatics. Salaries for these post-doctoral positions will be at the NIH scale.

- Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline. 

- Strong interest in musculoskeletal biology.

- Strong oral and written skills, with the ability to communicate effectively

- Experience working with in vitro and/or in vivo models of skeletal biology.

- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a postdoc at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications: 

-Experience with microCT

-Experience breeding and working with mice

-Experience in bioinformatics

Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University offers the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees and collaborates closely with clinicians and biomedical scientists on the VCU Medical Center in downtown Richmond, Virginia. The environment within the College of Engineering at VCU is collegial and highly collaborative.

Additional information about the department’s programs and faculty may be found at https://egr.vcu.edu/departments/biomedical-engineering/.

VCU postdocs are Virginia state employees, with benefits mirroring 12-month faculty. We adhere closely to the NPA’s guidelines for best practices in postdoc training. We work closely with our local NPA chapter, the VCU Postdoc Association, to make this a welcoming and productive place to complete your training!