Post-Doctoral Research

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Position – Gut Barrier, Microbiome, and Translational Injury

The Burn and Shock Trauma Research Institute (BSTRI) at Loyola University Chicago is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an NIH‑supported translational research program investigating gut immune dysfunction, epithelial barrier disruption, microbiome‑driven inflammation, and intestinal injury following burn trauma, colitis, and critical illness.

The fellow will play a central role in designing and executing experimental studies examining:

• Intestinal epithelial tight junction regulation
• Gut barrier failure and systemic inflammation after burn/trauma
• Microbiome‑based and probiotic interventions
• Experimental models of intestinal inflammation, including DSS‑induced colitis

The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing projects involving intestinal permeability assays, murine injury and colitis models, and host‑microbe interactions.

• Design and conduct independent and collaborative experiments in gut barrier biology, inflammation, and injury response. Lead functional epithelial assays, including:
• Tight junction permeability models
• TEER measurements
• Barrier integrity and cytokine‑induced disruption studies
• Perform and support in vivo murine studies, including models of burn injury, alcohol, trauma and colitis
• Perform molecular and cellular biology techniques such as Western blotting, ELISA, RNA/DNA isolation, RT‑qPCR, immunofluorescence, and confocal imaging
• Mentor trainees and contribute to institute‑wide collaborations
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, grant applications, and scientific presentations
• Assigned duties as needed

• PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree in biomedical sciences, immunology, microbiology, physiology, or related field

• Strong background in epithelial biology, inflammation, or translational disease research
• Demonstrated expertise in experimental techniques including cell culture and functional barrier assays, immunoblotting and immunoassays, PCR and quantitative gene expression analysis
• Excellent organizational, communication, and teamwork skills

• General office suite and willingness to learn lab‑specific programs

• Position Number: 8151018
• Work Modality: Fully In‑Person
• Job Category: University Staff
• Job Type: Full‑Time
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Campus: Maywood‑Health Sciences Campus
• Department: BURN SHOCK TRAUMA INSTITUTE
• Location Code: BURN SHOCK TRAUMA INSTITUTE (06320A)
• Funding: Yes, grant funded
• Salary Range: $62,232 – $75,564 annually
• Open Date: 02/19/2026

As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. For more information, please visit Loyola’s mission and transformative education websites.

Loyola University Chicago adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy
.

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