The Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center seeks a highly qualified Postdoctoral Research Fellow to develop, validate and run High Resolution Mass Spectrometry-based quantitative drug and exposomics assays in support of the care of patients with obesity and diabetes and in support of patients with psychiatric disorders.

The ARPA-H funded project is part of a multi-institutional effort (IndiPHARM) led by Dr Gary Miller from Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health. The project itself is led by Drs Serge Cremers, and Alex Lyashchenko who will be overseeing the activities of the fellow in the Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory of the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

The work is to lead to several scientific publications and will provide a unique opportunity for clinical pathologists and clinical chemists to gain experience in the development of highly complex mass spectrometry assays and their application in patient care. For other MDs, PhDs, and/or PharmDs with experience in this area, the work not only provides a unique opportunity to develop highly complex mass spectrometry assays for patient care, but also an opportunity to be trained as clinical laboratory director and clinical pharmacologist.

Job Function:

Develop, validate and implement High Resolution Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Exploris-120)– based panel assays to quantify drugs, metabolomic and exposomic markers in blood of patients in support of their care. The panel assays are to be approved for patient care by NY State Department of Health.

The panels are focused on drugs, metabolomic, and exposomic markers relevant for treatment patients with diabetes and obesity and for the treatment of patients with psychiatric diseases.

The development of the assays will take place in close collaboration with the other investigators involved in the IndiPHARM project, especially Drs Gary Miller and Randolph Singh’s group from Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health and Dr Douglas Walker from Emory University.

The fellow will be involved in the clinical pharmacological interpretation of these highly complex assays for individual patients and is expected to publish several papers from these activities.

If eligible, the fellow is expected to apply for a Laboratory Director Certificate of Qualification in Therapeutic Substance Monitoring / Quantitative Toxicology from New York State Department of Health. 

Lab Mission/Purpose:

The Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory of the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology is a state-of-the-art CLIA-, CAP, and New York State Department of Health–accredited academic clinical laboratory that develops and offers LC-MS– and HPLC-based assays for drugs in support of patient care. The laboratory’s rapidly expanding test menu includes routine assays for drugs that are also offered by other clinical laboratories but its primary focus is on drugs for which therapeutic drug monitoring is not available anywhere else. In addition, the laboratory’s unique position within one of the world’s leading medical centers enables early translation of assays for drugs in development into patient care. Assays are developed and offered for patient care in close collaboration with academic research groups as well as pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies.

In addition to reporting drug levels, the laboratory provides consults with respect to the interpretation of drug levels using pharmacokinetic software and integrating chemistry, clinical, and genetic data into the therapeutic drug monitoring process.

Minimum Education Requirements:

MD, PharmD, and/or PhD

Minimum Skills Required:

Experience in developing and validating assays with LCMS, preferably with an Orbitrap.

Preferred Qualifications:

Clinical Pathologist

Clinical Chemist

Clinical Pharmacologist (ABCP)

Hiring Salary Range: 

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow: $72,116- $83,000

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training.  The above hiring range represents the University?s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

Connections working at Columbia University