Postdoctoral Position

A postdoctoral position is available to study the mechanisms of impaired wound healing in diabetes at the lab of Dr. Aristidis Veves, at The Rongxiang Xu, MD, Center for Regenerative Therapeutics, Beth Israel Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School.

Our studies, funded from DARPA, DoD and NIH, use human specimens, in vitro experiments and animal models to compare healthy and diabetic tissues, including unwounded and wounded skin, blood, and serum. We have shown that in diabetic subjects and animal models of diabetes there is chronic systemic and local skin inflammation (Dinh et al [2012] Diabetes, Theocharidis et al [2020] Diabetes), reduced skin expression of neuropeptides such as Substance P (Pradhan-Nabzdyk et al [2013] J Vasc Surg, Leal et al [2015] Am J Pathol), and increased skin mast cell degranulation (Tellechea et al [2016] Diabetes). In addition, to further investigate the role of inflammatory cells including mast cells and macrophages, as well as the role of neuropeptides in diabetes-associated impaired wound healing, the chosen candidate will contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting such cells or molecules (Tellechea et al [2020] JID) while employing state-of-the-art techniques including single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. Moreover, they will interact with a diverse team of scientists ranging from clinicians and podiatrists to biomaterial engineers, bioinformaticians and systems biologists. Highly motivated candidates demonstrating scientific maturity, ability to be creative, to design and conduct studies independently, write manuscripts and research proposals, and coordinate multidisciplinary projects involving various research team members are encouraged to apply. A strong background in immunology and/or molecular and cell biology is preferred.

This position is an excellent and exciting opportunity to work within the vibrant Harvard research community and gain exposure to clinical investigation, while continuing to explore the basic science mechanisms of diabetic wound healing, with high translational potential.

Interested applicants should send a C.V., cover letter that includes current research interests and motivations for applying to this position, and the contact details of three references to aveves@bidmc.harvard.edu