Research Associate in the Division of Engineering

Description:
The Vijay lab in the Engineering Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, seeks to recruit a Research Associate in Bioprinting, Biomaterials, and Tissue Engineering to work on the in vitro and in vivo characterization of biofabricated tissue constructs. The successful applicant will drive a fascinating project on the advanced bioprinting strategies for the in vitro culture of cells and tissues and in vivo testing of the biofabricated tissues. The PI’s previous works have proved the advantages of bioprinting over manual culture methods and the versatility of the process to fabricate a biomimetic architecture to mimic the native human tissue both in terms of structure and function. To get further insights, the candidate will be involved in testing several novel biomaterials including polymers and hydrogels with a broad range of mechanical and electrical properties and biological functionalities in:

1. in vitro environment - with several types of cells such as Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Neural Stem cells based on the applications
2. in vivo environment – implantation of the biomaterials and biofabricated constructs in animal models, followed by subsequent characterizations

Applications for these printed biomaterials will include bone, cartilage, nerve, and skin tissue engineering.

Responsibilities will include but not limited to:

1. In vitro cell culture studies including viability, live/dead, PCR, Western blot, immunocytochemistry, immunohistology, stem cell differentiation
2. Staining, characterization, and microscopy of printed constructs
3. Development of animal models such as rat sciatic nerve model, animal surgery, implantation of the constructs, and follow-up studies including post-surgical characterization
4. Analysis and interpretation of data, deriving meaningful conclusions
5. Writing project reports, grant applications, and journal/conference papers
6. Managing lab related activities (ordering consumables, planning various experiments in the lab, etc.)
7. Supervising and training students in the related field

The candidate will work in a multidisciplinary environment consisting of PhD-level scientists, graduate students, and undergraduate students and will interact with several scientists from other disciplines. Applicants must have a PhD in biological, chemical, or physical sciences, or biomedical/chemical/materials science engineering or related field with a specific focus on in vitro and in vivo studies. Must have significant experience and demonstrated skills and technical expertise with in vitro and in vivo (animal studies) biological assays including animal surgery, tissue isolation, and characterization. Knowledge of bioprinting is desirable but not mandatory. The terms of employment include a highly competitive salary, medical insurance, housing allowance, and educational subsidies for children as well as other benefits.