Job Description

Martin J. Hessner Ph.D.
Department of Pediatrics
The Max McGee Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes
Children’s Research Institute
Medical College of Wisconsin

A postdoctoral fellowship - wet lab position is available in Dr. Hessner’s well-funded laboratory to study clinical, translational and basic science aspects of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Background knowledge in Immunology and/or autoimmunity related to Type 1 diabetes is preferred. Technical experience in genetics/genomics/transcriptomics and/or cellular immunology is preferred.

Dr. Martin Hessner’s laboratory is within McGee Diabetes Center within the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin (https://www.mcw.edu/departments/max-mcgee-diabetes-research-center).

Candidates will work in as part of a team focused on human studies aimed at characterizing T1D disease susceptibility, disease heterogeneity, and responses to therapeutic interventions utilizing immunotherapeutic agents and probiotics. A successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Bioinformatics or any relevant branch of biological sciences. Preference will be given to individuals with research interest and experience in T1D and/or autoimmunity. For one position we are seeking applicants with expertise in genetic and genomic techniques, flow cytometry and sorting, and immunological assays. For the other position, we are seeking expertise in bioinformatics and statistics to facilitate analysis of complex scRNAseq, SNP, and Affymetrix gene expression data sets. For both positions, good written and verbal communication skills are highly appreciated.


Purpose
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), a postdoc is an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced research training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue his or her chosen career path. In addition, according to the National Postdoc Association (NPA), Postdoctoral appointees can pursue basic, clinical or translational projects so long as their primary effort is devoted toward their own scholarship. Postdocs are essential to the scholarly mission of the mentor and host institution, and thus are expected to have the freedom to publish the results of their scholarship.

Characteristics of a postdoctoral appointment:

It is expected that postdocs at MCW, with the assistance of their supervisor, will:

Transition to career independence through the development of professional skills that enable the postdoc to actively pursue a career of his/her own choosing.
Be supervised by at least one senior scholar who actively promotes the postdoc's professional development.
Establish an individual development plan (IDP) that incorporates equally the postdoc's career and training goals and the mentor's research goals.
Pursue basic, clinical, or translational projects so long as effort is focused primarily on research.
Publish results of the postdoc's research and scholarship during their appointment.
The postdoctoral appointment is temporary by nature, the aggregate amount of time spent as a postdoc is recommended to not exceed five years (not including family medical leave or maternity/paternity leave).
As postdocs are important members of the host institution's community, appropriate levels of compensation, health care, and other benefits commensurate with their essential status should be afforded, independent of the postdoc's source of funding.
Primary Functions

Plan, design and execute complex research studies, procedures and protocols.
Participate in discovery projects.
Coordinate research study activities; lead and manage projects.
Oversee organization, synthesis and analysis of data and findings.
Prepare scientific reports, outcome findings and scientific manuscripts.
Participate in meetings with principle investigator and research staff in which you will evaluate/interpret the validity of data, develop methodologies, and design and evaluate lab procedures.
Maintain supplies, may require negotiation with vendors, and track purchase orders.
May oversee the work of laboratory personnel including training and development as well as daily work direction, delegation and establishing priorities.
Perform other duties as assigned.
References:

Cabrera, S.M., Y.-G. Chen, W.A. Hagopian, M.J. Hessner. 2016. Blood-Based Signatures in Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetologia. 59(3):414-25 PMID: 26699650. PMCID: PMC4744128.

Cabrera, S.M., X. Wang, Y.-G. Chen, S. Jia, M.L. Kaldunski, C.J. Greenbaum and the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Canakinumab Study Group, T. Mandrup-Poulsen and the AIDA Study Group, M.J. Hessner. 2016. Interleukin-1 antagonism moderates the inflammatory state associated with Type 1 diabetes during clinical trials conducted at disease onset. European Journal of Immunology. 59(3):414-25. doi: 10.1002/eji.201546005. PMID: 26692253. PMCID:PMC4828314.

Cabrera, S.M., S. Engle, M.L. Kaldunski, S. Jia, R. Geoffrey, A. Szabo, P. Simpson, C. Speake, C.J. Greenbaum, Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet CTLA4-Ig Study Group, Y.G. Chen, M.J. Hessner. 2018. Innate immune activity as a predictor of persistent insulin secretion and association with responsiveness to CTLA4-Ig treatment in recent onset T1D. Diabetologia. 61:2356–2370. DOI: 10.1007/s00125-018-4708-x. PMID: 30167736

Battaglia, M., S. Ahmed, M. Anderson, M.A. Atkinson, D. Becker, P. Bingley, E. Bosi, T.M. Brusko, L.A. Di Meglio, C. Evans-Molina, S.E Gitelman, C.J. Greenbaum, P.A. Gottlieb, K.C. Herold, M.J. Hessner, M.J. Knipp, L. Jacobsen, J.P. Krischer, A.S. Long, M. Lundgren, E.F. McKinney, N.G. Morgan, R.A. Oram, T. Pastinen, M.C. Peters, A. Petrelli, X. Qian, M.J. Redondo, B.O. Roep, D. Schatz, D. Skibinski, M. Peakman. 2020. Introducing the endotype concept to address the challenge of disease heterogeneity in Type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 43(1):5-12. PMID: 31753960. DOI: 10.2337/dc19-0880.

About MCW
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is one of the largest healthcare employers in Wisconsin. We are a distinguished leader and innovator in the education and development of the next generation of physicians, scientists, pharmacists and health professionals; we discover and translate new knowledge in the biomedical and health sciences; we provide cutting-edge, collaborative patient care of the highest quality; and we improve the health of the communities we serve.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.