Postdoctoral Associate

Overview

New Jersey’s academic health center, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), integrates education, clinical care, and research to improve human health. RBHS includes eight schools, a behavioral health network, and five centers and institutes focused on cancer, neuroscience, biotechnology, environmental health, and health‑care policy. Faculty are teachers, clinicians, and scientists whose work advances medical innovation and informs patient care.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate within the Department of Oral Biology at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). The candidate will conduct research on wound healing, salivary gland development and regeneration, and saliva‑bacteria interactions using genetic perturbation and over-expression in vitro and in vivo (mouse) models. The position offers opportunities to develop an independent research portfolio, access state‑of‑the‑art facilities, and collaborate on translational projects.

• Investigate wound healing, salivary gland development, and/or saliva‑bacterial/microbial‑host interactions using molecular, cellular, and tissue‑level assays.
• Design, perform, and analyze experiments involving gene perturbation, gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9, RNAi), and gene over-expression in vitro and in vivo.
• Perform immunostaining for paraffin or frozen tissue sections.
• Maintain experimental records in accordance with Rutgers institutional policies and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and develop new protocols and workflows as needed.
• Prepare and revise manuscripts for publication; assist with grant proposals and presentations.
• Seek new collaborative projects within the department and externally.
• Mentor undergraduate and master’s students.
• Keep abreast of relevant federal, state, and Rutgers regulations and policies.
• Adhere to Rutgers compliance standards as outlined in the RBHS Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct, and Conflict of Interest Policy.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Ph.D. in Oral Sciences, Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences, or related discipline (required).
• Familiarity with standard molecular biology techniques (qPCR, Western blot, immunostaining).
• Ability to work independently, take personal responsibility, design experiments, troubleshoot, and collaborate.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Strong experience with wet‑lab techniques: cell culture, molecular cloning, gene editing, microscopy, mouse handling.
• Track record of scientific productivity, including at least one first‑author publication or preprint.
• Experience with mouse surgery, CRISPR‑based gene manipulation in mammalian or microbial systems.
• Familiarity with computational analysis or coding (e.g., R, Python).

• Salary range: $60,000 – $200,000, depending on qualifications, experience, and funding.
• Benefits include medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage; paid vacation, holidays, and leave programs; competitive retirement plans; educational benefits for employees and dependents; life insurance; employee discount programs.

• Full‑time, 37.5 hours per week.
• On‑site work required.

Rutgers University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), Rutgers provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, military service, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, blood trait, genetic information, or any other category protected by law.

• * Do you have a Ph.D. in Oral Sciences, Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline?
  • Yes
  • No

• Resume/CV

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• List of Professional References (contact Info)