We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to lead basic and pre-clinical studies of the role of interleukin (IL)-6 and a novel antagonist of the IL-6 receptor, HSJ633, in mouse models and human fetal membrane ex vivo models of preterm birth. The fellow will be mentored by Dr. David Olson. Dr. Olson leads the Inflammatory Pathways to Preterm Birth Team, a highly productive international assembly of scientists which have collaborated successfully since 2005. The candidate will join this collaborative global preterm birth research consortium working to bring clinical products to market through our own technology translation companies, Livmor Diagnostics, Inc. and Maternica Therapeutics, Inc. (Maternicarx.com).

The Olson laboratory is located in the Heritage Medical Research Centre at the University of Alberta. Investigators use animal models, human tissue explants, and primary cell culture to study the molecular processes that drive pregnancy and parturition. This postdoctoral project is focused on testing the efficacy of the highly specific therapeutic, HSJ633 (targeting Interleukin (IL)-6 receptor), in blocking preterm birth in the mouse while protecting fetal organogenesis against fetal inflammation. This allosteric small peptide antagonists selectively inhibits STAT3 (HSJ633) without forfeiting other signaling pathways involved in immune vigilance or cytoprotection (MAPK, Akt, NFkB), thereby optimizing efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Preterm birth remains an acute unmet medical problem in large part because the pregnant woman is a drug orphan- there are virtually no new products being tested to diagnose and treat preterm birth and fetal inflammation. Preliminary HSJ633 experiments in vitro and in vivo have shown very promising results.

Candidates must be able to take a leading role in this project and work independently under the guidance of Dr. Olson and senior personnel in the lab. Skills that interested candidates must exhibit are an excellent attention to detail, good organizational skills, intellectual curiosity and passion for the research, and a willingness to work in a team and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. Extensive experience in rodent handling and breeding, animal pregnancy models, and rodent treatments (injection of agents) is required. Experience in models of inflammation, tissue explant work, and basic cell culture are an asset. The project will involve RT-qPCR, Western Blot, ELISA/multiplex, and cell migration assays. Candidates with doctoral degrees and a strong background in any one of these fields or in other closely related fields are welcome to apply. Interested candidates should send a cover letter detailing their interest in the position and prior experiences that qualify them for this postion, their CV and the names of three references to David Olson (dmolson@ualberta.ca). This appointment is a full-time, 2 year contract with potential for renewal. Candidates should also be willing to apply for competitive fellowships to enhance their salary support.

Posted: August 12, 2021

Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology  

The Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology (VCRB) in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA seeks to add a basic or translational scientist to its faculty. The VCRB comprises basic and clinical scientists whose primary research emphasis includes infertility, maternal fetal-placental interactions, vaginal microbiome, and benign and malignant gynecological tumors of the reproductive tract. The center provides an optimal environment for individuals interested in integrating clinical, translational and basic science and have a strong desire to pursue a career in academic research. Our Center’s Website is https://www.massgeneral.org/obgyn/vcrb.

The MGH Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology includes a large general Ob/Gyn practice as well as clinical and research activities in maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic oncology, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Clinical research is also supported through the department’s Deborah Kelly Center for Outcomes Research. Global health OB/GYN research at Mass General focuses on surgical and reproductive health care for women in resource poor settings both domestically and abroad. Faculty also collaborate with the larger MGH and Harvard Medical School research community and enjoy the resources of the Massachusetts General Research Institute.

Posted: August 12, 2021

Tenure-track faculty position at Loma Linda University

The Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate rank to establish a productive basic translational research program with some academic responsibilities for medical and graduate student teaching.

Please find details of the job posting here

Posted: May 18, 2021

Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Epidemiology and Asthma Translational Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children 

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dr. Subbarao’s research team is an energetic, multidisciplinary team dedicated to enhancing the health of children. We are seeking a passionate post-doctoral fellow to join our team. The successful applicant will work at the Hospital for Sick Children’s Research Institute on numerous collaborative projects directed by Dr. Padmaja Subbarao. The research participant population comprises of a diverse mix of healthy children and children with a history of mild to severe asthma and/or allergies and their parents.

Apply through the link below:
https://career.sickkids.ca:8001/psc/CRPRD/CAREER/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=13156&PostingSeq=1

posted: October 27, 2020

Postdoctoral Position in Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Placental Development

NIH-funded postdoctoral position is available to investigate molecular mechanisms controlling hemochorial placentation using stem cells and genetically manipulated rat models. Applicants should have a Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree and experience in biochemical and molecular biology research approaches and a strong work ethic.  Experience with embryo handling would be helpful. The applicant should have a commitment to becoming an independent scientist. Competitive salaries will be negotiable and are dependent upon experience. Application review begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Please send curriculum vitae, a letter outlining research experience and career goals, and names and addresses of three references to:
Dr. Michael J. Soares
Institute for Reproduction and Perinatal Research, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160; email: msoares@kumc.edu

The University of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

posted: July 17, 2020

Postdoctoral Fellow in Integrative Molecular and Genomic Epidemiology for Developmental Origin of Complex Diseases

Job type: Postdoctoral Fellow

Position Summary:
Applications are invited for the postdoctoral fellow position at the Lunenfeld‐Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System. The successful candidate will join the molecular and genomic epidemiology research group led by Dr. Rayjean Hung in the Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research (https://net.lunenfeld.ca/pcphr/) within the Sinai Health System.

Full description – Click here

Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Perinatal Molecular Neuroscience Research Group
PI:  A/P Mhoyra Fraser

Oxygen deprivation occurring in the womb or during delivery leads to permanent functional impairment of the brain and is one of the most common challenges faced by infants born preterm. Because of major advances in neonatal intensive care, survival of these preterm infants with brain injury has increased significantly. However, currently, there are no effective therapies to reduce injury. A major therapy limitation is the failure to traverse the blood brain barrier (BBB) and enter the brain. Exosomes, small vesicles, are naturally capable of penetrating the BBB, and have the capacity to communicate with the microenvironment through transfer of proteins, miRNA and other nucleic acids. Importantly, they have an intrinsic neuroprotective therapeutic activity as well as being ideal candidates to deliver targeted therapeutic molecules of choice through modifications to enhance delivery. These proposed studies will examine the intrinsic therapeutic potential of unmodified human fetal neural stem cell-derived exosomes to ameliorate preterm brain injury to previously inaccessible regions of the brain using our well-established animal model of preterm brain injury. Applications are invited for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship to carry out the programme of work to test this hypothesis.

The position is available for 2 years, commencing September, 2019. The starting basic salary will be finalised according to qualifications and experience. The post will be based primarily at the Department of Physiology, Faculty Health and Medicine, University of Auckland (supervised by A/P Mhoyra Fraser).

Ideal Candidate
Applicants must have a PhD in biomedical or biological sciences and have relevant experience in a discipline of physiology or neuroscience. Ideally, the candidate will have advanced practical understanding and experience of histology, fluorescent microscopy, and protein and molecular biology.

Applications
Applications should include a personal statement highlighting suitability to the post, detailed CV and the names and addresses of two academic referees.  Please send the applications no later than 16th August, 2019 to A/Professor Mhoyra Fraser e-mail: m.fraser@auckland

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Developmental Origins of Health and Disease in Indigenous People

The College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics at the University of Saskatchewan (https://medicine.usask.ca/research/overview.php) is pleased to invite applications for a tenured or tenure-track, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair appointment in Developmental Origins of Health and Disease in Indigenous People (I-DOHaD). The Canada Research Chair (CRC) Program is the flagship of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world’s top countries in research and development (www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca).

Full description - Click here

Kobor Lab

Postdoctoral Scholar: Human Social and Population Epigenetics - Centre of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia (UBC).
The Kobor Lab is seeking a highly motivated and ambitious recent PhD graduate to work on various projects related to understanding the causes and consequences of variation in epigenetic marks across human populations. This is an ideal position for applicants who wish to develop the skills required to launch an independent research programme.

Please send a CV and cover letter to Dr. Kobor: msk@bcchr.ca

Research Technician: Statistical and Bioinformatics Approaches to Human Epigenetics, Centre of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia (UBC).
The Kobor Lab is seeking a highly motivated Research Technician. The successful applicant will perform statistical analyses of high-throughput epigenomics and genotyping data to facilitate the interpretation of associations between molecular data with environment, stress and disease. The position will provide opportunities to lead projects toward publication and attend national and international conferences.

Please send a CV and cover letter to Dr. Kobor: msk@bcchr.ca

A Postdoctoral Fellow position is available immediately in the laboratory of Dr. Sandra Davidge

The University of Alberta (Edmonton, Canada)

The focus of the Davidge laboratory is to understand the mechanisms of cardiovascular dysfunction due to complicated pregnancies. A variety of pre-clinical models, using both in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches, are used to study endothelial vascular function. Prior experience in using animal models in reproductive sciences and/or vascular biology is desired. The laboratory has three complementary programs that include: the investigation of the causes and consequences of preeclampsia, determining the consequences of maternal aging on pregnancy outcomes, and addressing the mechanisms of cardiovascular pathophysiology in offspring born from complicated pregnancies [a field termed the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)].

 Applicants will be required to have a PhD degree in physiology, or equivalent qualification. The successful applicant will be expected to participate in all aspects of their research projects, including experimental design, data collection, data analysis, preparation of graphs and figures, and preparation of manuscripts. Strong written and oral communication skills are highly desired. Applicants are expected to be motivated and self-driven and should work well both independently and as part of a team.

Non-Clinical Lecturer in Fetal Physiology and Prenatal Therapy

University College London - Institute for Women's Health, Maternal & Fetal Medicine

Postdoctoral Joint Position in Developmental Psychology at McGill University

Montreal, QC and Western University, London, ON
Start date: Immediately.

McGill University’s newly formed Developmental Research in Environmental Adversity, Biological Susceptibility and Gender (DREAM-BIG) research group (http://dreambigresearch.com/) invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral position on a research project funded by the Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives Research Initiative under the direction of Dr. Ashley Wazana, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at McGill and Co-Director of the Child Day Hospital Program at the Jewish General Hospital and Dr. J. Bruce Morton, Professor at the Department of Psychology and Director of the Cognitive Development and Neuroimaging Lab at the University of Western Ontario.

Job description: The postdoctoral fellow will lead analysis on the gender-specific prenatal programming of ADHD and its underlying neuro-cognitive deficits and brain-based anomalies in a large international research collaboration that includes 5 Canadian and international birth cohorts (U.K., Netherlands, Singapore). It is hence a unique opportunity to work with large-scale, complex datasets and be exposed to interdisciplinary research including neuroimaging, genomics, and behavioral and clinical data across the lifespan. The postdoc will have a number of roles including but not limited to the coordination of research activities between the collaborating sites at all levels, development of research protocols, acquisition of datasets, analyses, publication, presentations and development of longer-term funding.
Since the analyses of behavioral data will take place at McGill University/Jewish General Hospital, while the analysis of neuroimaging data at Western University, the position involves paid travel between the two locations as well as some travel to the University of British Columbia, and possibly the sites of the imaging datasets (Bristol, Rotterdam and Singapore).  Details to be clarified.

Qualifications: The successful applicants will hold a doctoral degree in developmental or clinical psychology, epidemiology, neuroscience or a related degree in social and behavioral or health sciences. The applicant should demonstrate great organizational skills and familiarity in working with multiple platforms and modalities of data. Additionally, the candidate should also be flexible to travel to the various sites, especially the collaborating partners in Canada (UBC and UWO). Background in any of the following areas will be an asset: prenatal development, psychiatric genetics, neuroimaging, ADHD and/or executive functions.

To Apply: Please send a cover letter outlining your relevant training and prospective career goals, CV, research statement, up to three representative publications and contact information for three references to Ashley.Wazana@mcgill.ca or Eszter.Szekely@mail.mcgill.ca. For more information, please contact Dr. Wazana or Dr. Szekely by email. 
Start date: Immediately.

Postdoctoral positions are currently available in the Bale lab

University of Maryland School of Medicine: Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health & Brain Development

The Bale lab's research focuses on understanding the role of stress dysregulation in development and disease, and the sex differences that underlie vulnerability using mice as the model organism. Their research is particularly interested in developing models of parental stress (preconception and pregnancy) and dissecting germ cell involvement and epigenetic programming.

Positions are available for translational projects related to the impact of stress on male germ cell maturation and the unique role of extracellular vesicles, and for placental epigenetic regulation of sex-specific responses to stress in utero. Molecular expertise required.

Links to recent papers that describe much of the Bale lab’s work:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29967448
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/05/15/321976
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29198470
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29988069

Joint appointment at The University of Cambridge & The University of Manchester

Post-Doctoral Position Available
Jan 2019 – Jan 2022
Maladaptive Cardiac Remodelling in Adult Offspring from Hypoxic Pregnancies: Role of Cellular Calcium Homeostasis

Ideal Candidate
Applicants must have a PhD in cardiac biology or a discipline of physiology. The successful applicant will have relevant extensive experience in the coordination of projects with small animals models, such as rats, and the assessment of
cardiomyocyte structure and function. Ideally, the candidate will have advanced practical understanding and experience of cardiac cell isolation techniques, fluorescent microscopy and electrophysiology. The project will require a good
understanding of the interaction between cellular structure, intracellular calcium regulation and cellular function. Animal husbandry experience and Home Office Training would be a distinct advantage.

Full description - Click here