Postdoctoral Fellow; Chemistry

Monday to Friday, 8-5pm

The Postdoctoral appointee must have recently (within the last eight years) been awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g., Sc.D., M.D.)

A Postdoctoral Fellow (""postdoc"") is a professional apprenticeship designed to provide recent Ph.D. recipients with an opportunity to develop further the research skills acquired in their doctoral programs or to learn new research techniques, in preparation for an academic or research career. In the process of further developing their own research skills, it is expected that Postdoctoral Fellows will also play a significant role in the performance of research at the University and augment the role of graduate faculty in providing research instruction to graduate students. A Postdoctoral Fellow works under the supervision of a regular faculty member, who serves as a mentor to the Fellow, and it is expected that the faculty mentor will impart the realities, and variety, of scientific careers, and will encourage experiences outside the laboratory to broaden postdocs' aspirations. Within the confines of the particular research focus assigned by that faculty member, the Postdoctoral Fellow functions with a considerable degree of independence and has the freedom (and is expected) to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of appointment. Thus, the role of Postdoctoral Fellows is clearly differentiated from full-time technical employees.

Postdoc appointments are characterized by all of the following conditions:

* the appointee was recently (within the last eight years) awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate (e.g., Sc.D., M.D.);

* the appointment is temporary;

* the appointment involves substantially full-time research or scholarship;

* the appointment is viewed as preparatory for a full-time academic and/or research career;

* the appointee works under the supervision of a faculty member; and

* the appointee has the freedom and is expected to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship during the period of appointment.

As an EOE/AA employer and an ADVANCE Institution that strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte encourages applications from all underrepresented groups. Applicants subject to criminal background check.

The employee will report to Professor Dr. Juan Vivero-Escoto and will be a senior member of the Vivero-Escoto's Lab, supporting projects through original research, collaboration with other team members, and co-mentoring students. The employee's principal research responsibilities will be training and research.

The successful applicant will develop light-activated antimicrobial nanoparticles for the elimination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These projects aim to generate more efficient nanoparticle-based strategies for the efficient treatment of bacteria.

Candidates for this position should have strong experience in the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles. Knowledge in techniques such as dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy is strongly recommended.

Expertise in biological and in vitro methods like RNA and DNA extraction and purification techniques, SDS- PAGE, PCR, electrophoresis, bacteria culture techniques, bacteria growth assays (e.g. MIC, MBC), Biofilm formation and elimination assays, Confocal and fluorescent microscopy techniques for imaging and analysis, Flow cytometry, Western-blot analysis and ELISA are required.

The employee will confer with Professor Vivero-Escoto on overall research direction and strategy but will exercise a considerable amount of independent judgment and original thinking that contributes to original knowledge and advances the University's reputation in research. Under the supervision of Dr. Vivero-Escoto, the employee will publish in peer-reviewed journals. They will share student mentoring and participate in departmental seminars and other professional activities. The employee will have the opportunity to learn, grow professionally, and attend domestic and international conferences.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and an ADVANCE Institution that strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte maintains an Affirmative Action Plan prepared in accordance with Executive Order 11246 and the Consent Decree.