Postdoctoral Fellow, CRM Support

Aga Khan University (AKU), Pakistan’s first private international university established in 1983, is dedicated to delivering education, research, and healthcare services of international standards relevant to Pakistan and the surrounding region. In collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), a globally recognized center for regenerative medicine and stem cell research, AKU has developed the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CRM). This cutting-edge facility focuses on advanced research in stem cells and regenerative medicine. We are inviting applications for a postdoctoral fellow position from exceptional scientists with a strong research background. The successful candidate will have the unique opportunity to lead and develop an internationally recognized program in stem cell and gene therapy.

Key Responsibilities:
The postdoctoral fellow will report to the designated faculty or their designee and will be responsible for developing and sustaining a robust research program in stem cells and gene therapy. This role involves writing grant proposals to secure national and international funding and working independently on various related projects. The candidate will collaborate closely with a team of dedicated scientists and research staff.

Specific duties include:
- Conducting hands-on bench research and maintaining organized records of materials and data.
- Staying updated with current trends and literature in the field.
- Presenting periodic progress reviews to CRM faculty and the CRM Director alongside the primary investigator or research fellows.
- Contributing to the development of course materials and resources for CRM.
- Providing regular progress reports to the project team lead and monitoring project timelines.
- Adhering to the highest laboratory, health, safety, and ethical standards consistent with CRM and international protocols.
- Offering recommendations to improve laboratory quality, resources, and research methodologies.
- Building the program’s reputation while addressing ethical considerations.
- Leading the coordination of research efforts to ensure timely completion of project milestones.
- Fostering a cooperative, team-based culture within the research environment.
- Supporting research fellows and students in project preparation.
- Ensuring all research complies with international standards and aligns with UCSF/AKU guidelines.
- Promoting cross-faculty collaboration at national and international levels to enhance educational innovation and impact.
- Advising on policy development and ethical procedures related to research conduct, stem cell line development, and laboratory equipment maintenance.

Required Qualifications:
- A PhD in a relevant subject area or submission of the PhD thesis for examination.
- Demonstrated outstanding achievements in biomedical fields such as stem cell biology, CAR-T cell therapy, nanomedicine, gene therapy, or genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.
- Experience in clinical translational research involving stem cell therapeutics is advantageous.
- A strong passion for research with extensive bench-side laboratory experience.
- A proven track record of publications in internationally recognized scientific journals.
- Excellent communication skills with fluency in spoken and written English.

Comprehensive employment checks will be conducted as part of the recruitment process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.