Job Description

OVERVIEW OF ROLE

We are looking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher to undertake interdiscipli-nary collaborative research at the University of California, San Diego and the University of Oxford. The aim of this research is to use basic and clinical scientific approaches to evaluate the effect of lactogenic hormones on milk oligosaccharide synthesis.

The postdoctoral fellow will determine if lactogenic hormones, such as prolactin, modulate synthesis of major oligosaccharides in human milk, such as 3’-sialyllactose. The project will utilize: 1) samples and metadata from human cohort studies to establish hormone-oligosaccharide associations, and 2) murine models to characterize mechanism of hormone action on milk oligosaccharide production.

The postholder will be based at UC San Diego (the lead University) and at the University of Oxford for approxi-mately 12 months each.

It is expected that the candidate will have a background in either biology, biochemistry, nutrition, endocrinology, or a related field. Supervision will be provided jointly by Prof. Lars Bode at UC, San Diego and by Prof Fadil Hannan at the Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford.

The post will be offered on a fixed term contract for 24 months with the option to extend on extramural funding.

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

Human milk is a complex biological fluid and contains a variety of bioactive molecules that influence infant health and wellbeing. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are among the most abundant bioactive factors in human milk. HNOs play a key role in protecting the infant against necrotizing enterocolitis, and may also promote neuro-development. Furthermore, 3’-sialyllactose, a major HMO in both human and mouse milk, has been shown to improve offspring metabolic health and cardiac function in mice.

Our study aims to advance knowledge about the impact of lactogenic hormones on HMO synthesis and compo-sition in human milk by investigating: 1) whether prolactin increases milk oligosaccharide concentrations in a dose-dependent manner; 2) the influence of other lactogenic hormones e.g. cortisol, insulin, and thyroxine, on oligosaccharide abundance and composition; and 3) whether these hormones influence the expression of key mammary cell components involved in HMO synthesis.

RESEARCH CENTRES

Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (LRF MOMI CORE) is located on the main campus of the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla and focuses on biomedical research and education research around all aspects of human milk. MOMI CORE is driving the frontiers of hu-man milk research by engaging and activating researchers, clinicians and educators from ostensibly unrelated disciplines and backgrounds to apply their unique perspectives and expertise to human milk. MOMI CORE’s mission is to create an engine of discovery focused on understanding human milk by fostering collaborative in-vestigation across research, education and clinical practice to improve the health and development of infants, mothers, and society as a whole.

Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Oxford Centre for the Endocrinology of Human Lactation (LRF OCEHL) com-prises a team of doctors, scientists and a research midwife, whose goal is to undertake ambitious clinical and basic science research to define the endocrine and genetic processes that ensure lactation adequacy. LRF-OCEHL is based in the Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health (NDWRH) at the University of Oxford. NDWRH is one of the largest and most successful academic departments in the world in its field. There are approximately 160 people working in the department, including senior academic staff, research support staff, clerical and technical staff, and graduate students (including clinicians) carrying out research towards a higher degree. There are also a number of visiting researchers from many parts of the world. The average annual in-come is approximately £10 million, of which over 75% comes from external sources.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and lead a project plan for both the human cohort study analysis and murine studies.
• Analyze bioactive factors in human milk and blood samples.
• Utilize statistical methods to analyze associations between hormones and oligosaccharides.
• Administer hormones to mice and measure hormones and oligosaccharides in murine blood and milk.
• Analyze mouse mammary gland gene expression.
• Attend appropriate scientific seminars and meetings and remain up-to-date with developments in the relevant fields.
• Work collaboratively with team members at UC, San Diego and the University of Oxford.
• Contribute to the supervision of MSc and PhD students.
• Present results of analyses at internal academic meetings, as well as national and international scientific conferences.
• Prepare scientific publications arising from the research.

 
ESSENTIAL SELECTION CRITERIA

• A PhD in a field related to biomedical research, e.g. biochemistry, biology, nutrition, endocrinology.
• Ability to work in highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary environments across continents.
• Experience of planning and managing a research project.
• Experience in cell or molecular biology.
• Experience working with mouse models.
• Understanding of statistical data analysis.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and in writing.
• Experience of contributing to high-impact scientific papers as evidenced by publications.

DESIRABLE SELECTION CRITERIA

• Understanding of molecular and/or clinical endocrinology.
• Experience working with plasma or milk samples.
• Experience with administering compounds in mice.
• Knowledge of mammary biology and lactation.
• Knowledge of and experience with liquid chromatography.
• Ability to develop a long-term, holistic research vision for the topic.
• Ambition to write grant proposals and to seek new grants to further develop interdisciplinary research topic.
• Capacity to anchor the topic to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and understanding how it applies in low-resource settings.
• Willingness to integrate the work/vision within the key WHO and UNICEF initiatives.
• Motivation to identify collaboration opportunities and build collaborations.
• Drive to develop yourself as a leader within your field.
• Capable of establishing the topic’s value with potential funders.
• Envision the road to implementation – from basic research to application and social impact.


Have we sparked your interest? Then we look forward to receiving your electronic application (including CV, letter of motivation and names and contact details of 3 professional referees):
[email protected]

If you have any questions about the role, please contact us at:
[email protected] or T: +41 52 511 30 70