NANO-THERMAL BIOENGINEERING LABORATORY
JOIN THE TEAM
Passionately driven, inspired individuals.
PhD and Postdoctoral Positions in CNS Drug Delivery
and Ultrasensitive Biomarker Detection
Nanomics Laboratory | UT Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center
The Nanomics Laboratory at The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) and UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) invites applications from highly motivated PhD students and postdoctoral associates. Our interdisciplinary team develops nanotechnology-enabled approaches to overcome biological barriers in the nervous system and to enable sensitive, multiplexed molecular diagnostics. Current research programs include transient modulation of the blood–brain barrier, optical interrogation of the brain extracellular space, high-throughput screening platforms for CNS gene and drug delivery, and ultrasensitive biomarker detection in biofluids. Our work is supported by NSF, NIH, CDMRP, ARPA-H, CPRIT, the American Heart Association, and other partners. The laboratory collaborates broadly across UT Dallas and UTSW, as well as with investigators at Harvard Medical School, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Yale, UC Berkeley, Caltech, and Stanford. Our research has also supported the formation of several biotechnology startup companies.
Available research areas
- CNS gene and drug delivery
We seek PhD students and postdoctoral associates to develop high-throughput platforms for discovering and optimizing gene- and drug-delivery systems for the nervous system. Projects may involve lipid nanoparticle formulation and screening, blood–brain barrier biology, peptide and lipid chemistry, gene therapy, molecular engineering, in vivo delivery evaluation, and machine learning.
- Ultrasensitive and multiplexed biomarker detection
We seek PhD students and postdoctoral associates to develop nanotechnology-enabled methods for ultrasensitive and multiplexed detection of disease biomarkers in blood and other body fluids. Relevant areas include nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization, conjugation chemistry, in vitro diagnostics, Raman spectroscopy, optical sensing, assay development, and machine learning.
Qualifications
PhD applicants. A strong academic background and research interest in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, materials science, molecular biology, neuroscience, or a related field are preferred. Applicants should be prepared to apply through the appropriate UT Dallas graduate program.
Postdoctoral applicants. A PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline is required. Prior experience in one or more of the technical areas listed above is preferred. Strong candidates will be collaborative, self-directed, able to communicate clearly, and motivated to lead interdisciplinary projects.
Application
Positions are available immediately, with start dates determined flexibly in consultation with selected applicants. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please email the following materials as a single PDF:
- A cover letter describing research interests and fit with one or both research areas
- Curriculum vitae
- Contact information for three references
- Up to three representative publications for postdoctoral applicants
Send applications to Dr. Zhenpeng Qin at Zhenpeng.Qin@utdallas.edu, copying Zhenpeng.Qin@UTSouthwestern.edu. Competitive salary and benefits are provided for postdoctoral appointments.
HIRING NOW
Postdoctoral Associates, PhD Candidates, and Research Technician Positions in Nanomaterials, Neurophotonics, Brain Barriers, and Microfluidics
The Nano-Thermal Bioengineering Laboratory at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is looking for highly motivated PhD candidates and postdoctoral associates to join our dynamic and fast-growing lab. Several positions are available immediately.
Click here to learn more.
Other opportunities
Postdoctoral Researchers
For post-doctoral researchers interested in other areas in our lab, please send a cover letter, CV, top 3 publications and references to Dr. Qin (Zhenpeng.Qin@utdallas.edu). Candidates are strongly advised to read about our research interests, state their strengths, and propose innovative and disruptive ideas in our areas of interest.
PhD Students
We expect to recruit 1~2 PhD students every academic year depending on funding situation. Potential graduate students should apply to Department of Mechanical Engineering or Department of Bioengineering or appropriate programs at The University of Texas at Dallas.
If you have not applied, please apply to appropriate programs and receive admission.
If you have already applied and received admission, please send Dr. Qin a cover letter, CV and reference contacts in PDF format, and clearly indicate your interest on specific areas of the our research. I will follow up with you for a discussion if there is a mutual interest and match.
Graduate student candidates are encouraged to apply for the Graduate Fellowship at UT Dallas.
Masters Students
We welcome highly motivated masters students and prefer to work with students that have already been admitted to UT Dallas. We typically ask masters students to take one semester of graduate classes and determine the feasibility of a research project depending on the academic performance.
If you have not been admitted to the masters program at UT Dallas, please apply and get admitted.
If you get admitted and enrolled in UT Dallas, please wait for one semester and contact Dr. Qin with your UT Dallas transcript along with your cover letter, CV, and reference contacts in PDF format.
We don't have research assistant (RA) positions for masters students.
Undergraduate Students
If you are an undergraduate student with an outstanding academic performance at UT Dallas, please send Dr. Qin an email with your resume and interest in participating research activities.