Postdoctoral Research Associate - Gorska Lab

Summary

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position in immunology is available in the laboratory of Dr. Magdalena Gorska (gorskam@njhealth.org) in the Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado.

The lab studies maternal effects on the immune system and development of allergic diseases, with a major focus on asthma (http://www.njhealth.org/gorska-lab). A proportion of patients with asthma develop symptoms of their disease very early in life, sometimes in the 1st year. Genetic factors are contributory, but fail to fully explain why. It is therefore increasingly recognized that development of early-life asthma is dependent in substantial part on environmental exposures that are encountered by infants after birth and exposures and health status of their mothers during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Dr. Gorska’s lab is focused on maternal factors, trying to delineate the mechanisms underlying their effects in offspring.

More specific goals of the lab are to define maternal information that is gained and transmitted to offspring or lost and not transferred to offspring, elucidate routes of information transfer (placenta, breast milk, gametes), delineate offspring cells and pathways that are programmed by this information, and study how these cells and pathways contribute to the development of asthma. The lab has particular interest in cells and pathways of the immune system. The translational goals are to identify early-life biomarkers of predisposition to asthma in humans and define molecular targets for development of preventive drugs.

To accomplish these goals, the lab uses mouse models, human cord blood samples, blood samples from young children with asthma, and a variety of immunological, signaling and transcriptomics approaches. 

Essential Duties

1. Performs, on a very independent basis, all phases of experimental investigations, to include being responsible to the Principal Investigator in the planning, developing, operating, recording, collaborating and reporting of major projects.
2. Collaborates with Principal Investigators and senior researchers in the progress of major research projects.
3. Provides guidance to laboratory staff in one or more laboratory areas, including technicians, support and auxiliary staff.  Performs as the technical advisor on techniques involving complex analyses utilizing highly sophisticated techniques.  Serves as primary contact with researcher staff for technical services on major techniques, recording devices and statistical procedures relative to the specifically assigned field.
4. Reviews quality control of new or modified laboratory techniques which affect any part of major projects.
5. Performs routine and non-routine tests leading to the successful completion of developed experiments.  Knows and follows age-specific guidelines.

Other Duties

1. Performs as a back-up to staff absences and vacancies, as necessary.

Competencies

1. Accountability: Accepts full responsibility for self and contribution as a team member; displays honesty and truthfulness; confronts problems quickly; displays a strong commitment to organizational success and inspires others to commit to goals; demonstrates a commitment to National Jewish Health.
2. Laboratory Knowledge: Demonstrates and understands laboratory testing and methodology.
3. Decision Quality: Makes good decisions based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement.   Sought out by others for advice and solutions.
4. Adaptability: Maintains effectiveness in the midst of change in work responsibilities or environment, requirements ambiguity, or stress.
5. Problem Solving: Uses issue identification, data relation and comparison, pattern recognition and information gathering to create analyses and make recommendations.
6. Informing/Communicating: Conveys ideas, responses, or instructions effectively, appropriately, and persuasively through writing or speech.
7. Professional Relationships: Interacts with others in a constructive, positive, and respectful manner, regardless of individual differences. Assists team members or co-workers in achieving personal goals and completing assignments.
8. Drive for Excellence: Consistently meets performance expectations, ensures that accurate, objective, and timely measures of quality are made and used.
9. Innovation Management:  Identifies key trends, opportunities, and organizational capabilities that would bring competitive advantage to the organization.  Sees trends before others and integrates concepts in a unique way.

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility
None

Travel
None

Core Values

1. Be available to work as scheduled and report to work on time.
2. Be willing to accept supervision and work well with others.
3. Be well groomed, appropriately for your role and wear ID Badge visibly.
4. Be in compliance with all departmental and institutional policies, the Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct and completes NetLearning by due date annually.
5. Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the institution.
6. Adheres to safe working practices and at all times follows all institutional and departmental safety policies and procedures. 
7. Wears appropriate PPE as outlined by the infection control policies and procedures.
8. Demonstrates compliance with all state, federal and all other regulatory agency requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Education: MD or PhD in biology, chemistry or other basic sciences required.
2. Work Experience: A minimum of five years of specified experience in technical investigatory techniques required.  MD or PhD in a specified basic science field will suffice for 2 years experience.   
3. Special Training, Certification or Licensure: None

Salary Range: $55,000 -$65,000

Benefits
At National Jewish Health, we recognize that our outstanding faculty and staff are the essence of our organization. For every aspect of health care, our employees are our greatest asset.
With that in mind, we have designed a valuable, comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and their families.

• Medical Plans, Dental Plans and Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• FSA and HSA
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance and AD&D
• Voluntary Benefits, like Accident Insurance, Critical Care and Hospital Indemnity
• Sick and Vacation Paid Time Off
• Wellness Program
• Legal Plan