The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF is seeking a postdoctoral research fellow in the Orthopaedic Biomechanics and Biotransport Laboratory (PI: Aaron Fields, Ph.D.). The fellow will work on NIH-funded studies that utilize cells, tissues and human subjects to determine how nutrient transport through the cartilage endplate impacts intervertebral disc degeneration. He or she will also take a leading role in translational studies aimed at enhancing the transport properties of the cartilage endplate to improve disc nutrition for regeneration. The research involves close collaborations with clinicians including spine surgeons, physiatrists, and radiologists.
The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research environment and will benefit from access to extensive clinical and basic science resources at UCSF: advanced microscopy tools, biomechanics equipment, cell & molecular biology facilities, clinical imaging centers, and longitudinal databases. Opportunities for scientific enrichment and musculoskeletal collaboration exist within the NSF/industry-funded Center for Disruptive Musculoskeletal Innovation, the Core Center for Musculoskeletal Biology and Medicine (P30), and the Precision Medicine in Rheumatology Center (P30).
- Ph.D. in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, biomechanics or related field
- Background in tissue mechanics or cartilage biology/repair
- Experience conducting experimental research in musculoskeletal biomechanics, including biomechanical testing, imaging/microscopy, and image analysis
- Strong communication skills in written and verbal English
- Strong programming skills, e.g. C, C++, Matlab, or IDL
- Successful publication record
- Experience with cell culture, µCT imaging, or finite element analysis is a plus.
Applicants should email a CV, along with a brief letter outlining their research background and interests and a list of three references to:
Aaron Fields, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of California, San Francisco
Email: [email protected]
Useful links
- Fields Lab: https://fieldslab.ucsf.edu
- Office for Postdoctoral Scholars: http://postdocs.ucsf.edu
- UCSF Research Overview: https://www.ucsf.edu/about/research-overview