Job Description

Postdoc Positions in Diabetes Research (Biology) and Drug Discovery (Medicinal Chemistry) at University of Alabama at Birmingham ( UAB)

Two research positions are available in the Wang lab at the Department of Genetics in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine in the area of diabetes research and drug discovery, funded by NIH grants.

Postdoc Scholar in Molecular and cellular biology in Diabetes and metabolism . The candidate will be involved in the field of basic and translational diabetes and obesity research and drug discovery. The research in the lab involves the development and implementation of innovative strategies in islet beta cell function, survival, and regeneration, insulin resistance/obesity, liver steatosis, and energy metabolism . The Postdoctoral Fellow will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge techniques, including in vivo transgenic and knockout mouse models of diabetes/obesity, in vitro molecular and cellular assays, and genomic, proteomic, metabolomics and chemical genomic platforms. In addition to mechanistic studies, the lab also specializes in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Our research program is well funded by National Institutes of Health with multiple R01 grants. A recent Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular or cell biology, genetics, immunology, pharmacology or related field is required for the position. Strong expertise in molecular and cellular biology is desired. Experience in animals or in diabetes or metabolic disorders is not required, but a plus.

Postdoc Scholar in Medicinal /bioorganic chemistry : another direction of our research is at the interface of biology and chemistry, for the discovery and development of drugs for treatment of diabetes and obesity. We discover and study small molecules that promote pancreatic insulin-producing beta cell function, survival and regeneration using biochemical or cell-based high throughput screening technology. The candidate for this position will be responsible for the design and/or synthesis of analogs of hit compounds, and SAR studies. A Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, or related fields with experiences in synthetic organic chemistry is required. Knowledge in biology or experience in cell culture and any biology experiment is a plus, but not required.

Candidates are expected to be self-driven, highly motivated and well organized, and have published first-author papers in internationally recognized journals. Must be able to multi-task and solve problems creatively, with the ability to work independently as well as cooperatively with a team. Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.  

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a research university and academic health center that discovers, teaches, and applies knowledge for the intellectual, cultural, social, and economic benefit of Birmingham, the state, and beyond. UAB is internationally renowned for its intensely collaborative culture that has — for more than five decades — produced breakthroughs in education, health care, research, and service.

Spanning more than 100 city blocks, UAB is the state of Alabama’s largest single employer with nearly 28,000 employees and has an annual, state-wide economic impact of $12.1 billion.  U.S. News & World Report ’s 2022 “America’s Best Graduate Schools” ranks 16 UAB graduate programs among the nation’s top 25 and eight UAB specialties were ranked among the nation’s top 50 in the magazine’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals report. UAB research grants and awards are at a record high, totaling $715 million in FY22 — a 50% increase over the past five years. UAB ranks 33rd among all universities in federal research funding and 17th among public universities. UAB's NIH funding continues to grow among peer institutions in the Southeast and beyond, with the university ranking 25th among all universities in NIH funding and 11th among public universities.

UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran’s status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB’s Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. For more information on Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at UAB, visit the  UAB Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion  opens a new website , call (205) 934-8762, or contact the office at 701 20th Street South, AB 336, Birmingham, AL 35294-0103.

Please send a CV, a brief statement of research accomplishments and interests, and a list of references to Dr. Weidong Wang at ww8@uab.edu .

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