Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Millay) Muscle Cell fusion

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POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Millay Laboratory at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join an NIH-funded research program investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of myoblast fusion in skeletal muscle. Our lab discovered and characterized the muscle-specific fusion proteins myomaker and myomerger, and this project builds on that work to define how these fusogens remodel membrane lipids to drive fusion and how muscle cells acquire fusion competence throughout life. This research has direct relevance to muscle-wasting conditions, congenital myopathies, and the design of next-generation gene therapy delivery vehicles. The following recent publication gives more insight into the project:

ENVIRONMENT

The Millay Lab is part of the Heart Institute and the Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, an internationally recognized pediatric research institution with outstanding shared resources. The fellow will also have opportunities to engage with CCHMC's broader cell and gene therapy and regenerative medicine research community.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:   

• Develop the skills and knowledge (critical thinking and analysis of data, devising specific aims, long-term project planning and experimental design) to become an independent scientist
• Design and execute experiments spanning molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, imaging, and mouse genetics.
• Generate and characterize cell and mouse models to dissect fusion mechanisms.
• Research and improve current methods and evaluate innovative techniques. protocol and assay accuracy by conducting regular quality and reproducibility checks. Implement this knowledge in the Division/Department. Troubleshoot and correct erroneous results or problems with laboratory equipment. 
• Discuss relevant insights about experimental results with Faculty and provide useful recommendations and analysis.      
• Present research at laboratory meetings, journal clubs, seminars, and meetings. Develop skills to critically review and discuss data being presented.
• Draft, write, and edit scientific reports, papers, journal articles, abstracts, and grants.
• Progressively increasing responsibilities with mentorship of research staff and fiscal administration
• Maintain currency in field through continuing education, literature, and seminars. Be an active participant in the process through intellectual discussions with PI and other faculty, trainees and research staff. Solicit feedback on career trajectory from PI, mentoring committee and others who can provide coaching and insight.
• Attend required Cincinnati Children’s training sessions and ensure regulatory compliance with all institutional (i.e. Infection Control, ORCRA and others as applicable) policies and procedures
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 Required:

• Ph.D. and/or M.D. in cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, developmental biology, physiology, or a related field (or expected completion prior to start date).

  - Demonstrated hands-on experience with core molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry techniques.

  - Experience with imaging approaches and image analysis.

  - Experience with mouse genetics and in vivo animal work.

  - A track record of productivity, evidenced by first-author publications or manuscripts in preparation.

  - Excellent record-keeping, data analysis, and scientific communication skills (written and oral).

Ideal Candidate Attributes

We are looking for someone who is intrinsically motivated and self-driven — someone who takes ownership of their project, thinks critically about experimental design, troubleshoots independently, and is genuinely curious about the underlying biology rather than simply executing assigned tasks. Strong candidates will:

- Be comfortable working across multiple experimental systems and enjoy learning new techniques as the project demands.

- Show initiative in reading the literature, generating hypotheses, and proposing new experimental directions.

- Collaborate effectively with lab members and core facilities.

- Demonstrate resilience and problem-solving skills when experiments don't go as planned.

About Us

At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s. 

 Cincinnati Children's is: 

• Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10  best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years 

• Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding 

• Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers  (2025), America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025) 

• One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune 

• Consistently certified as great place to work 

• A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability 

• Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 

 We Embrace Innovation—Together.  We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us.

Comprehensive job description provided upon request.

Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability