Postdoctoral fellowship in Biomedical Engineering 2013 - US

A postdoctoral fellow is sought to work on a project that will examine the application of a novel multifunctional immunomodulatory biomaterial strategy to support islet graft survival and function. This is a multidisciplinary project involving biomaterials, islet transplantation for diabetes treatment and analysis of immune outcomes. The goal of this project is to assess the ability of a MIS to deliver signals temporally to modulate dendritic cell (DC) phenotype in vivo with a benefit on the immune situation. Specifically here, the objective is to support acceptance of islet allografts. The MIS has been developed in the Babensee laboratory for the sequential, timed delivery of immunomodulators to induce derivation of tolerogenic DCs which with concomitant exposure to tolerizing antigen of the tissue to be transplanted, to support antigen-specific graft acceptance. The MIS is based on a cryogel scaffold of DC maturation-inert material viz., agarose, with entrapped differentially- crosslinked gelatin microparticles to sequentially deliver biomolecules. This project will examine the suitability of the MIS construct environment to allow autologous islet cell survival, characterize the local and systemic immune-inhibitory environment and the ability of MIS to support acceptance and function of islet allografts.

The project will develop expertise in experimental design, implantation of biomaterial scaffolds for immunomodulation and islet transplantation into mice and analysis of subsequent islet cell function/survival and immune outcomes. Specific techniques to be used include isolation and culture of islets of Langerhans from mice, implantation of MIS and islets in biomaterial constructs and analysis of islet survival (e.g. histology/immunohistochemistry for insulin, glucose levels), host tissue harvesting for flow cytometric analysis of immune cell phenotype and cytokine profiles. This project is supported by an Innovation & Leadership in Engineering Technologies and Therapies (ILET2) for Diabetes Training funded by NIH. It is collaborative research project between Dr. Julia Babensee (in BME at Georgia Tech and Emory University) and Dr. Allan Kirk (Emory Transplant Center). Dr. Andres Garcia (Georgia Tech) also provides biomaterial gel technology for islet transplantation as a collaborator. This postdoctoral fellow working on this project will do so at both the Petit Biotechnology Building at Georgia Tech and Emory Transplant Center.

Interested candidates should have as Ph.D. in bio- or biomedical engineering or a basic science (e.g., biochemistry, immunology, biology). Experience in at least some of the following techniques is preferred (but not necessary): mammalian cell culture, ELISA, flow cytometry, working with mice, Luminex, histology/immunohistochemistry. The ability to contribute productively in a multidisciplinary team environment is essential, as is the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Due to funding restrictions, applicants should be US citizens or permanent residents of the US.

Interested applicants should forward by e-mail a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a short description of career goals and the names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of three references to:

Julia E. Babensee, Ph.D.,
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech,
315 Ferst Dr.
Atlanta, GA, 30332-0535
julia.babensee@bme.gatech.edu

Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University are Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employers. Both universities encourage the application and nomination of qualified minority and female candidates.

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled