Postdoctoral Scholar- Division of Geriatrics… at UC Irvine · Orange

Summary: The University of California, Irvine (UCI) is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology to support NIH-funded research focused on delirium, aging, and neuroinflammation. The role involves conducting both clinical and experimental research to bridge human subject studies with animal and cell-based models, ultimately advancing the understanding of delirium and related neuropsychiatric disorders. Responsibilities: - Conduct human subject research studies related to delirium and aging in hospital and clinical settings, including participant recruitment, clinical assessments, and informed consent - Coordinate study procedures with clinical teams and ensure compliance with approved research protocols - Collect, process, and document biological specimens, including blood samples, in accordance with study and regulatory requirements - Assist with acquisition of electrophysiological data, including electroencephalography (EEG) recordings, as part of ongoing clinical research projects - Manage clinical research data, including organization, curation, and maintenance of patient information, clinical variables, and research datasets - Support regulatory compliance activities, including preparation and maintenance of institutional review board (IRB) protocols, amendments, and ongoing study documentation - Conduct laboratory-based translational research using animal models of delirium to investigate mechanisms of neuroinflammation, microglial activation, and cognitive dysfunction - Perform experimental interventions, behavioral assessments, tissue collection, and molecular analyses in mouse models - Develop and utilize induced microglia-like cells derived from human peripheral blood samples to model immune and inflammatory responses relevant to delirium and aging - Integrate findings from animal models, cell-based systems, and human clinical data to support the laboratory’s translational research objectives - Analyze and interpret clinical, molecular, and experimental research data - Prepare scientific manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations for peer-reviewed publications and scientific conferences - Collaborate with interdisciplinary research team members and participate in research meetings and project development activities Required Qualifications: - M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent terminal degree in a biomedical or clinical research-related discipline - Demonstrated experience or training in human subjects research, particularly in clinical or hospital-based settings - Strong organizational, communication, and documentation skills - Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary clinical and research teams Preferred Qualifications: - Cover Letter (Optional) - Statement of Research (Optional) - Reflective Teaching and Mentoring Statement - See our guidance for writing a reflective teaching statement. (Optional) Required Skills: Human subjects research, Clinical assessments, Informed consent, Biological specimen collection, Electroencephalography (EEG), Clinical research data management, Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol preparation, Animal models of delirium, Neuroinflammation research, Microglial activation studies, Behavioral assessments in animal models, Molecular analyses, Induced microglia-like cell modeling, Data analysis and interpretation, Scientific manuscript preparation