Summary Under the direction of Dr. Fabrisia Ambrosio (Harvard Medical School & Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital), the post-doctoral fellow will lead a multidisciplinary project investigating the molecular mechanisms by which aging compromises skeletal muscle health and regenerative potential. Muscle injury often results in persistent functional declines and impaired mobility in older individuals owing in large part to impaired regenerative responses. With the goal of better understanding the mechanisms underlying these declines over time, we will: 1) investigate how aging of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (i.e., the scaffolding material that surrounds all cells) alters the ability of extracellular vesicles to promote functional muscle regeneration, and 2) evaluate whether and how muscle contractile activity reverses these changes. Our long-term goal is to develop novel therapeutics to enhance tissue healing in a geriatric population. This is a collaborative project with the LeDuc laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University, and the project spans molecular/cellular biology together with bioengineering. Interested candidates can contact Dr. Ambrosio at FAMBROSIO@MGH.HARVARD.EDU for more details. Key Responsibilities * Stem cell isolation and characterization, including fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), sterile cell culture. * Extracellular vesicle isolation, characterization, and manipulation of cargoes. * Small rodent experiments, including cell transplantation, skeletal muscle functional testing, and surgical procedures. Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities (include number and type of FTEs) The post-doctoral fellow should be willing to mentor and work closely with students and/or research technicians. Qualifications and Experience Education/Degree Required: PhD Experience Required: * Wet lab experience * Experience working with stem cells Desirable: * Experience collaborating with investigators in the fields of bioengineering and physics * Bioinformatic skills Skills Required: Must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills with the English language Preferred: * Highly developed communications and interpersonal skills * Ability to work independently, be self-directed * Willingness to contribute as a member of a team and support other projects as needed * Anticipates challenges and develops and implements strategies for addressing them * Demonstrate initiative with ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines and adapt to changing situations * Attention to detail