Description
The Department for Investigative Medicine at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) invites applications for a graduate student position (Ph.D. program) in the laboratory of Hiroyuki Hirakawa. Graduate student conducts basic research in stem cell biology and immunology to address key questions related to the bone marrow microenvironment. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to complete a dissertation in WMed.
Tuition and stipend will be provided based on experience and accomplishments.
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About the Center for Immunobiology:
The Hirakawa Lab is located within the Center for Investigative Medicine within the Department of Investigative Medicine. The Center is endowed with the latest instrumentation to speed research discovery. Common equipment includes flow cytometers (BD Influx, BD Melody, Cytek Aurora CS, BD Fortessa, Thermo Fisher Attune), a Nikon confocal microscope, Illumina MySeq and Applied Biosystems SeqStudio (Sanger) sequencers, a QuantStudio 3D digital PCR cycler, a QuantStudio 3 RealTime PCR cycler, a Bio-Rad FPLC system, a Bio-Rad gel doc system, a CTL multi-spectral ELISPOT reader, a BioTek visible/fluorescence/bioluminescence microplate reader, a BioTek microplate washer, 2 speedvacs, several bacterial incubator shakers, and ultra-, superspeed, and cytospin centrifuges, among other items. In addition to the Flow Cytometry and Imaging Core, the Equipment Core, and the Sequencing Core, three separate, fully equipped common rooms are outfitted for BL2, radioisotope, and tissue culture work. Additional separate rooms house core equipment, freezers, and an X-ray developer. The Center floor includes a cold room, a conference room, and a break room. The animal facility is located on the same floor and contains a PXi X-RAD 320 irradiator and a BL2 room for in vivo work with infectious agents. Support for the Center includes a flow cytometer/cell sorter/imaging core manager, an equipment specialist, and a business and operations manager
BENEFITS:
- Wellness Reimbursement.
- Continuing Education and Tuition Reimbursement.
- Employer-funded retirement plan.
- Two medical plan options: PPO and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with employer HSA contribution.
- Flexible work solutions based on position and department.
- Up to four weeks of PTO accrual beginning in year one.
- Paid holidays.
- Paid volunteer time.
- Paid preferred holiday.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Communicates problems or matters of a scientific, technical and/or administrative nature within the department and interdepartmentally utilizing computer technology.
- Conducts research and assists in the conduct of research.
- Analyzes data and interprets results to write reports and summaries of findings.
- Maintains accurate records of tests conducted, results, data and patients tested.
- Organizes and prioritizes work to meet specific goals and accomplishments.
- Assists supervisor and lab members in the development of technical procedures and protocols.
- Maintains clean and efficient work area and replenishes supplies as necessary.
- Availability to work occasional overtime on weekends or evenings to complete time sensitive projects.
- Acquires knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
- All other duties as assigned.
Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
- B.S. or B.A. degree in Biology, Chemistry, or a related field is required.
- Applicant must be admitted to the Ph.D. program in Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University under the supervision of Dr. Hirakawa. Since the program does not require laboratory rotations, the successful applicant participates in the Hirakawa Lab starting in the first year.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Desirable but not required skills include experience with sterile tissue culture, flow cytometric analysis, RNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction, and molecular cloning.
Summary
About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed)
We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-centered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a welcoming, supportive, and engaging culture. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.
The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Beacon and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. WMed is the recipient of a $100 million foundational gift and the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide, as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs, with an estimated annual economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.
WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program as well as a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Sciences. We train physicians in 10 residencies and four fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas. Faculty in the Department of Pathology serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana.
The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, faculty and administrative offices, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs.
WMed builds upon Kalamazoo’s century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school’s advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with applicable State and Federal law.