Job Summary
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Oral Delivery, Epithelial Transport, and Nanocarrier Biology
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in Dr. Raluca Ostafe’s laboratory in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University. The position is part of a newly funded Wellcome Leap Focused Antibiotics project developing nanoparticle-mediated antibiotic delivery systems for site-directed treatment of infection while protecting the gut microbiome.
The successful candidate will lead infection-relevant release and antimicrobial-efficacy testing of oxygen-loaded antibiotic nanocarriers. The work will include development of infection-mimicking release conditions, antibiotic desorption/release assays, oxygen-unloading assays under low-pO₂ or infection-relevant conditions, MIC/MBC and time-kill assays, biofilm-relevant assays, and comparison of nanocarrier-associated versus free antibiotic exposure. The candidate will work closely with formulation, epithelial transport, and microbiome-assay team members to define lead and backup nanocarrier architectures.
We provide:
- Salary and health insurance benefits
- An intellectually stimulating, interdisciplinary, and supportive research environment
- Opportunity to work on a large translational project at the interface of microfluidics, nanomedicine, antimicrobial delivery, and infectious disease
- Access to advanced instrumentation and collaborative expertise across Purdue and external partners
In addition to completing this online application, interested individuals should submit the following documents, preferably as one PDF file, to Dr. Raluca Ostafe at rostafe@purdue.edu
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Names and contact information of three references
Purdue University is a public land-grant university and a tier 1 research institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. West Lafayette is a thriving and diverse community with excellent schools, located one hour north of Indianapolis and two hours south of Chicago.
Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.
Education
The successful candidate:
- Has a Ph.D. in microbiology, infectious disease biology, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, chemical biology, or a related field
Experience
The successful candidate:
- Has experience with bacterial culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, MIC/MBC assays, time-kill assays, or biofilm assays
- Has experience with quantitative assay development, data analysis, and experimental troubleshooting
- Is able to work carefully with infection-relevant models and maintain rigorous documentation
- Is self-motivated, organized, and able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
- Experience with antibiotic release assays, LC-MS/HPLC, oxygen measurements, hypoxia models, biofilms, or nanomedicine testing is preferred