Post-Doctoral Research Scholar - Choudhry Lab

Position Details

Job Title Post-Doctoral Research Position Number 8151018 Work Modality Fully In-Person Job Category University Staff Job Type Full-Time FLSA Status Exempt Campus Maywood-Health Sciences Campus Department Name BURN SHOCK TRAUMA INSTITUTE Location Code BURN SHOCK TRAUMA INSTITUTE (06320A) Is this split and/or fully grant funded? Yes Duties and Responsibilities

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Position \u2013 Gut Barrier, Microbiome, and Translational Injury

The Burn and Shock Trauma Research Institute (BSTRI) at Loyola University Chicago is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an NIH-supported translational research program investigating gut immune dysfunction, epithelial barrier disruption, microbiome-driven inflammation, and intestinal injury following burn trauma, colitis, and critical illness.

Position Overview

The fellow will play a central role in designing and executing experimental studies examining:

• Intestinal epithelial tight junction regulation
• Gut barrier failure and systemic inflammation after burn/trauma
• Microbiome-based and probiotic interventions
• Experimental models of intestinal inflammation, including DSS-induced colitis

The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing projects involving intestinal permeability assays, murine injury and colitis models, and host-microbe interactions.

Key Responsibilities

The fellow will:

• Design and conduct independent and collaborative experiments in gut barrier biology, inflammation, and injury response. Lead functional epithelial assays, including:
• Tight junction permeability models
• TEER measurements
• Barrier integrity and cytokine-induced disruption studies
• Perform and support in vivo murine studies, including models of:

Burn injury, alcohol, trauma and colitis

• Perform molecular and cellular biology techniques such as:

Western blotting, ELISA

RNA/DNA isolation, RT-qPCR

Immunofluorescence and confocal imaging

• Mentor trainees and contribute to institute-wide collaborations
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, grant applications, and scientific presentations
• Assigned duties as needed

Minimum Education and/or Work Experience

• PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree in biomedical sciences, immunology, microbiology, physiology, or related field

Qualifications

• Strong background in epithelial biology, inflammation, or translational disease research
• Demonstrated expertise in experimental techniques including:

Cell culture and functional barrier assays

Immunoblotting and immunoassays

PCR and quantitative gene expression analysis

Excellent organizational, communication, and teamwork skills

Certificates/Credentials/Licenses Computer Skills

• General office suite and willingness to learn lab specific programs

Supervisory Responsibilities No Required operation of university owned vehicles No Does this position require direct animal or patient contact? No Physical Demands None Working Conditions Odors, Animals Open Date 02/19/2026 Close Date Position Maximum Salary or Hourly Rate $75,564/ann Position Minimum Salary or Hourly Rate $62,232/ann Special Instructions to Applicants

As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago's mission, candidates should consult our website at www.luc.edu/mission/. For information about the university's focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at www.luc.edu/transformativeed.

About Loyola University Chicago

Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation's largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes\u2014including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences\u2014Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation's top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country's most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.

Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits. To view our benefits in detail, click here.

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