A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Michigan Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery provides outstanding, state-of-the-art, evidence-based care for musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. Our faculty, staff, and trainees conduct a diverse range of musculoskeletal research and scholarship. The department?s research program is integral to its mission and vision of leading advances in musculoskeletal health, through excellence and innovative care, scientific discovery, and dedicated teaching. 

Research in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is conducted by a diverse group of faculty, staff and trainees with expertise in biology, engineering, health outcomes, and healthcare. Our research teams are focused on improving treatment and preventing musculoskeletal disorders and disease. The collective Orthopaedic research group, together with local and external collaborators and research partners, emphasize trainee mentoring and career development. A rich overall training environment facilitates the advancement of learners from all levels, offering a wide variety of technical and conceptual expertise alongside mentoring from faculty and senior trainees with diverse backgrounds. 

This postdoctoral position will provide a postdoctoral fellow with the opportunity to work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary research team to conduct basic science and translational research, build new collaborations, establish independence, and obtain close mentorship and training in musculoskeletal science and metabolism. The work will involve contributions to musculoskeletal mechanobiology and regeneration program, specifically focused on using in vivo optogenetic and transgenic tools to understand developmental processes, mechanical adaptation, metabolic influences, and healing following injury of muscle, tendon, enthesis, and/or bone.

We are looking for an individual with an interest in both mechanistic and therapeutic studies and with long-term goals of establishing their own independent research program. 

• Plan, coordinate, execute, and disseminate basic-science research focused on tendon, bone, and muscle development and disease. 
• Conduct experiments relevant to currently funded grants and generate preliminary data for new grant applications. 
• Assist in writing grant proposals, in collaboration with the laboratory director and other senior group members, to obtain funding from federal, private, and university sources. Additionally, the ideal candidate will lead proposals pursuant of their independent and career development funding with the goal to facilitate their transition to an independent faculty position.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with our multi-disciplinary team of scientists and engineers.
• Lead and manage multiple projects and assignments with a high degree of autonomy.
• Supervise undergraduate and graduate students in the execution of basic science and translational studies and duties. 
• Lead and contribute to the writing of research manuscripts for peer-review related to research projects.
• Travel and present at regional, national, and international scientific conferences.

• PhD Degree in Engineering, Biology, Physiology, or a related field. 
• Publication record in musculoskeletal biology, including 1st-author contributions. 
• 5+ years of research experience in applicable research field
• Willingness and demonstrated track record of working on collaborative teams within and outside the laboratory
• Experience and willingness to work with small animals (e.g., mice) 
• Willingness to learn and become an expert in new tools and systems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Interest in and competency with teaching and mentoring 

• Experience with unloading/reloading models for studying musculoskeletal adaptation
• Experience in mouse dissections and surgery
• Prior work in animal/tissue imaging, including microcomputed tomography analysis, as well as histological approaches (microscopy and immunohistochemistry) are desired

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.