Postdoctoral Researcher – iPSC-Derived Liver Cell Engineering

Position Overview

The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to contribute to ongoing research focused on the development of scalable, clinically translatable induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived liver cell platforms for regenerative medicine applications.

TIBI is an independent nonprofit research institute dedicated to advancing personalized solutions for organ failure, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The Institute integrates biomaterials science, biofabrication, and translational engineering in close collaboration with clinical partners to accelerate therapeutic innovation.

The successful candidate will conduct independent and collaborative research in human iPSC expansion, directed differentiation into hepatocyte and related liver lineages, and functional characterization within engineered tissue systems.

Research Responsibilities

• Culture, maintain, and expand human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines.
• Develop and optimize directed differentiation protocols toward hepatocyte-like cells and related hepatic lineages.
• Perform molecular and cellular analyses, including qPCR, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunocytochemistry.
• Conduct functional liver assays, including albumin secretion, urea production, and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) activity assays.
• Contribute to the design and validation of scalable, reproducible workflows suitable for translational and preclinical applications.
• Maintain rigorous and detailed experimental documentation in accordance with institutional and funding agency standards.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in biomaterials, biofabrication, perfusion systems, and in vivo modeling.
• Prepare manuscripts, abstracts, and reports for peer-reviewed publication and funding agency review.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Stem Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in human iPSC culture and differentiation methodologies.
• Strong background in molecular and cellular biology techniques.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Ability to conduct independent research while contributing to a collaborative scientific environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience differentiating iPSCs into hepatocytes or definitive endoderm lineages.
• Familiarity with functional liver assays and metabolic profiling.
• Experience with 3D culture systems, organoids, or engineered tissue platforms.
• Understanding of translational research processes, including scalability and reproducibility considerations.
• Interest in clinically oriented regenerative medicine research.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A brief research statement (1–2 pages) outlining prior experience and research interests
• Contact information for three professional references

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. TIBI is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive research environment and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds.