Postdoctoral Associate #1 – Benam Lab – Human Lung Models and Host–Pathogen Interactions

The Benam Lab (https://www.benamlab.net/) at the University of Pittsburgh Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate to join an interdisciplinary research program focused on developing and applying advanced human-relevant in vitro models to study host–pathogen interactions and therapeutic responses. The successful Candidate will contribute to cutting-edge research at the interface of tissue engineering, infectious disease modeling, and translational biomedical science.

This position emphasizes the use of microphysiological systems (Organs-on-Chips), particularly in the context of lung, to investigate infection dynamics, barrier function, multicellular biology, and responses to therapeutic interventions under controlled experimental conditions.

Responsibilities

The Postdoctoral Associate will play a key intellectual and technical role in the research program. Responsibilities include:

• Design and execute experimental studies using advanced human in vitro tissue models, including establishment and maintenance of differentiated epithelial cultures
• Evaluate cellular responses in Organs-on-Chips under physiologically relevant conditions
• Perform and optimize assays to assess host–pathogen interactions, inflammatory signaling, and therapeutic responses
• Contribute to development and refinement of experimental workflows to enhance reproducibility and robustness
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate findings across complementary model systems and analytical platforms
• Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of experimental procedures and results
• Analyze and interpret data, and contribute to preparation of manuscripts, reports, and grant applications
• Mentor trainees and assist in training of laboratory personnel as needed

Qualifications

Required:

• Ph.D. in Lung Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Cell Biology, Physiology, or a related field
• Experience with primary human cell culture, in particular lung cells
• Strong background in experimental design and in vitro model development
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred:

• Experience with tissue-engineered or microphysiological systems
• Familiarity with lung epithelial barrier function assays and physiological readouts, air-liquid interface establishment, and mucociliary differentiation
• Experience with infection models or host–pathogen interaction studies
• Experience with quantitative imaging, molecular assays, or multi-modal data analysis

Interested applicants, please apply through https://www.join.pitt.edu Requisition #26001856

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.