About the Wyss:
The mission of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University is to transform human healthcare and the environment by emulating the way nature builds. Developed as an alliance between Harvard and other premier academic and clinical partner institutions, Institute faculty and staff collaborate in high-risk, fundamental research and science-driven technology development. A major focus of the Institute is to translate the technologies developed by its faculty and staff into commercial products and therapies through collaborations with clinical investigators and establishment of corporate alliances.
Role Description:
The candidate will join the Chaikof lab at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and is expected to closely interact with an interdisciplinary team of biomedical engineers, immunologists, developmental biologists, and clinician-investigators. The project will focus on the evaluation of strategies to engineer human blood vessels for disease modeling, organ fabrication, and reconstructive surgery using continuous and scalable bioprinting processes. The approach will use cells derived from genome edited human induced pluripotent stem cells that evade adaptive and innate immune mechanisms of immune rejection. The phenotypes of engineered vessels, including biomechanical and biological responses, will be investigated in vitro and in vivo.
In This Role You Will:
- Initiate and direct the design, fabrication, and characterization of engineered living blood vessels for disease modeling or organ fabrication.
- Facilitate the development of scalable bioprinting processes for blood vessel fabrication by interacting with other engineers. Monitor and evaluate completion of tasks and projects.
- Facilitate the design of genome edited vascular wall cells by interacting with genetic engineers and immunologists. Monitor and evaluate completion of tasks and projects.
- Integrate knowledge from developmental biology, genome editing, systems biology, molecular genetics, and immunology to determine the molecular mechanisms that evade alloimunity and promote desirable cell phenotypes.
- Apply a variety of in vitro tools and data analysis, including genetic, molecular and cellular bioassays, flow cytometry, as well as immunohistochemical studies to characterize the relationship between phenotype, gene expression signature, and host immune response.
- Utilize humanized mice in which parts of the human immune system has been recreated.
What You’ll Need:
- Requires a PhD in biomedical or mechanical engineering, molecular or cell biology, or related discipline.
- The candidate is expected to closely interact with members of a multidisciplinary team to efficiently pursue novel strategies that support the design of engineered tissues.
- Must be an energetic, out-of-box thinker with positive attitude.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, as is the desire and ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Exhibits outstanding collaborative skills and the ability to train and mentor others.
- Expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts. Demonstrated success as exemplified by peer reviewed publications, scientific creativity, and independent thought.
Where You Can Apply:
Submit CV and the names of three references to Elliott L. Chaikof, MD, PhD at echaikof@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Elliot L. Chaikof, MD, PhD, Johnson and Johnson Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Chaikof Lab
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute
- Harvard Medical School
The Chaikof lab is in the Center for Life Sciences (CLS) Building in the Longwood medical area, directly adjacent to Harvard Medical School. CLS 11090, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115
Working Conditions:
Harvard requires COVID vaccination for all Harvard community members. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage.
Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law. Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.