Pay Grade/Pay Range:  Non Classified - Grade NA

Department/Organization: 208301 - Biomedical Sciences

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm

Job Summary: Under the direction of a senior faculty member who serves as a mentor for the postdoctoral appointee, The Postdoctoral Fellow provides for an internship and continuation of scholarly activity and research after achieving the Ph.D. or other doctoral degree.

Additional Department Summary: The Department of Bioscience and Medicine initiative within the College of Community Health Sciences (CCHS) at The University of Alabama is seeking qualified candidates to join the Kumar Lab (h ttp://thekumarlab.ua.edu ). Research initiatives include working at the interface of interface of polymers and experimental therapeutics to prevent, manage or treat diseases using drugs or drug-like compounds or their combinations. The group is seeking to recruit a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with expertise in polymer synthesis, characterization, and their application to drug delivery.

The Kumar Lab seeks to provide customized solutions for different drugs, biological barriers, and diseases. (J Am Chem Soc. 139: 7203-7216, 2017; ACS Macro Lett. 6: 161-164, 2017, Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 317: F1255-F1264, 2019, Science Advances 6: eabb3900, 2020; ACS Nano 17: 6857-6874, 2023; J. Control. Release 353: 621-633, 2023).

Polymer Chemistry
• Custom synthesis, bio-conjugation, and characterization of polymers for drug delivery application.
• Expertise in spectroscopy techniques, and chromatography.
• Knowledge of formulation design will be an advantage.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will work as a part of interdisciplinary team of researchers to build rational design strategies for the delivery of pharmaceutical drugs, pioneer new strategies for receptor-specific delivery, and develop new assays to test the non-conventional dosage forms. Independently contributes to the planning and design of research and creative projects and performs supporting research and creative activities such as data analysis, monitoring outcomes, performing lab maintenance, and/or performing experiments and creating creative projects. Assists in both short-term and long-term planning and project goals, as well as in research and creative proposals and dissemination of project findings. Duties are specifically related to research activities, require an advanced level of knowledge in a field of science or learning, are predominantly intellectual and varied in character, and require consistent use of discretion and judgment. This is only a representation of possible duties and is not an all-inclusive listing.

This position will be embedded in the Board of Trustees-designated research center, The Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine (CCBM http://ccbm.ua.edu ).

Successful candidates will hold a Ph.D. degree in Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Synthesis, or closely related discipline and demonstrate a record of academic achievement in research.

Required Department Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Synthesis, or closely related discipline. Experience with organic synthesis, polymer synthesis and characterization demonstrated through peer reviewed publications.

Candidates will need to have completed their Ph.D. or have it completed by the start of employment. Applicants should upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae and include at least three references in the reference section of the application. Please upload additional documents to the “other documents” tab as needed. Cover letter should describe the focus of your research, including the questions you have identified, the results you have discovered, and the products of these efforts. Please outline the research directions you foresee pursuing in the Kumar Lab (http://thekumarlab.ua.edu ).

Skills and Knowledge: Knowledge/expertise in polymer chemistry. Data and statistical analysis experience. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Proficiency with standard software applications. Ability to work independently as well as within a group setting.

Preferred Qualifications: Candidates with experience in more than one model and surgical procedures preferred.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" Poster