Postdoctoral Researcher for Cornea Chip

Postdoctoral Researcher for Cornea Chip

Salt Lake City, UT

Reqid: PRN46629B

Job Category: Administrative

Job Type: Full Time

Job Shift: Day

Details

Open Date 10/29/2026

Requisition Number PRN46629B

Job Title Post Doc Res Assoc

Working Title Postdoctoral Researcher for Cornea Chip

Career Progression Track A00

Track Level

FLSA Code Administrative

Patient Sensitive Job Code? No

Standard Hours per Week 40

Full Time or Part Time? Full Time

Shift Day

Work Schedule Summary

Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm

VP Area Academic Affairs

Department 00068 - Mechanical Engineering

Location Campus

City Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment External Posting

Pay Rate Range 65,000-70,000

Close Date 12/31/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

The Kim Laboratory at the University of Utah (Department of Mechanical Engineering and John A. Moran Eye Center) is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative Postdoctoral Research Fellow. The fellow will lead the biological arm of an NIH-funded project on corneal mechanotransduction in keratoconus. This project sits at the intersection of corneal biology, mechanobiology, and organ-on-chip engineering, and builds on the laboratory’s recent work on curvature-dependent regulation of corneal stromal cells (Nature Communications, 2025).

The successful candidate will generate and validate CRISPR/Cas9 knockout corneal stromal cell lines. They will also study how curvature and mechanical load regulate corneal cell behavior in hydraulically controlled organ-chip platforms, and identify the mechanotransduction pathways underlying keratoconus progression. Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Vision Science, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field, with a strong track record of first-author publications.

This role requires hands-on expertise in mammalian cell culture, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and core molecular and imaging techniques such as qPCR, Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and confocal microscopy. A solid understanding of mechanotransduction signaling, including YAP/TAZ, cytoskeletal remodeling, and ECM regulation, is essential. The preferred candidate will also bring experience with corneal or ocular cell culture, 3D or microfluidic culture systems, and RNA-seq or quantitative image analysis.

Benefits

• The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems. Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

• The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

• Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

• Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

• To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX. More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address and contact details, can be located at the University of Utah Non-Discrimination page.

• As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of

Benefits

• Eligible Staff Members , a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.