A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.?
PET Radiotracer Characterization & Development
We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our multidisciplinary team focused on the discovery and evaluation of novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers targeting neuroreceptors and neuroimmune pathways. The successful candidate will employ a combination of in vitro tissue assays and in vivo imaging techniques to characterize the pharmacological properties, specificity, and imaging potential of candidate radioligands.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, conduct, and analyze in vitro assays (e.g., autoradiography, binding assays, immunohistochemistry) using rodent and human brain tissue to determine radiotracer binding affinity, selectivity, and tissue distribution.
- Perform in vivo PET imaging studies in small animal models (e.g., rodents/nonhuman primates) to evaluate tracer biodistribution, target engagement, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism.
- Collaborate closely with chemists, molecular biologists, and imaging physicists within a multidisciplinary environment to support the radiotracer development pipeline.
- Develop, optimize, and validate experimental protocols for both in vitro and in vivo components of the project.
- Prepare manuscripts, present findings at scientific meetings, and contribute to grant proposals as appropriate.
- Maintain compliance with institutional, federal, and ethical standards for animal and human tissue research.
- Ph.D. in neuroscience, pharmacology, chemistry, molecular imaging, biomedical engineering, or a closely related field.
- Familiarity with neuroreceptor and/or neuroimmune biology.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Established record of peer-reviewed scientific publication
- Prior experience with in vitro binding assays, histological techniques, and related tissue-based methods.
- Hands-on experience with in vivo PET imaging, including animal handling, radiotracer injection, and data acquisition/analysis.
- Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including proficiency with imaging analysis and statistical software (e.g., PMOD, Amide, SPM, MATLAB, or others).
One-year postdoc with option to renew.
Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.
Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.
