A postdoctoral position is available in the Teruel laboratory at Weill Cornell Medicine to study how circadian endocrine signals regulate metabolic physiology, insulin secretion, β-cell adaptation, and inter-organ glucose homeostasis. The lab combines mouse models of disrupted glucocorticoid rhythms with quantitative live-cell imaging, islet physiology, metabolic phenotyping, molecular biology, and computational analysis to understand how hormonal timing controls β-cell function, β-cell mass, adipose tissue expansion, skeletal muscle insulin resistance, and systemic metabolic adaptation.
We are especially interested in recruiting a postdoctoral scientist who can bridge in vivo mouse metabolic physiology with mechanistic, quantitative analysis of cell signaling. The successful candidate will lead projects investigating how altered glucocorticoid dynamics regulate insulin secretion, β-cell calcium and cAMP signaling, β-cell proliferation, and tissue-specific insulin action. Projects may include mouse metabolic studies, pancreatic islet isolation, dynamic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, live-cell imaging of calcium and cAMP dynamics, immunofluorescence microscopy, histology, western blotting/qPCR, RNA-seq or other omics analysis, and quantitative image/data analysis.
The postdoctoral associate will be expected to design and execute experiments, analyze data rigorously, prepare figures and manuscripts, present work at conferences, contribute to fellowship and grant applications, and work collaboratively with lab members and institutional collaborators.
This position is well suited for a candidate who wants to develop an independent research program at the interface of endocrine timing, diabetes, metabolic physiology, and quantitative cell signaling.
You will be responsible for the following:
- Conduct the research independently and/or collaboratively with colleagues to ensure all experiments are appropriately conducted following Lab, Department, and College policies and procedures.
- Designing, organizing, and carrying out experiments using established protocols, and sometimes adapting to and designing new protocols.
- Collect, prepare, and analyze research data. This may include keeping a detailed notebook summarizing experiments and recording research data and/or maintaining a computer database of the research data.
- Tabulate data for presentations and use graphics and statistical software to analyze and present data.
- Participate in abstract and article preparation with the Principal Investigator, publish results in research journals, and present findings at conferences.
- Assist the Principal Investigator in applying for fellowship, grant, and scholarship support, as requested.
- Assume general responsibility for scientific operations of the laboratory, including training and supervising interns, students, and other laboratory personnel, as necessary.
Minimum Qualifications:
Candidates must have a Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in metabolism, physiology, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, endocrinology, diabetes research, neuroscience, or a related field.
Applicants should have strong experimental training in at least one of the following areas: mouse metabolic physiology, diabetes/islet biology, hormone signaling, live-cell imaging, quantitative cell biology, metabolic phenotyping, molecular physiology, or molecular/cellular mechanisms of metabolic disease.
Candidates must have demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze data quantitatively, communicate results clearly, and work independently within a collaborative research environment.
Applicants should provide contact information for three references.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preferred candidates will have experience with several of the following:
Mouse metabolic phenotyping, including glucose tolerance tests, insulin tolerance tests, body composition analysis, tissue collection, metabolic cages, hormone measurements, or related in vivo assays.
Pancreatic islet biology, including islet isolation, insulin secretion assays, perifusion/dynamic GSIS, β-cell functional assays, or human/mouse islet culture.
Quantitative live-cell imaging, especially calcium imaging, cAMP imaging, biosensors, confocal or spinning-disk microscopy, time-lapse imaging, or analysis of single-cell signaling dynamics.
Strong command of metabolic physiology, insulin action, glucose homeostasis, β-cell compensation, adipose tissue biology, skeletal muscle metabolism, glucocorticoid biology, or circadian/endocrine regulation of metabolism
Quantitative analysis skills using tools such as Python, R, MATLAB, ImageJ/Fiji, QuPath, Imaris, CellProfiler, GraphPad Prism, or related platforms.
Molecular and histological approaches, including immunofluorescence, western blotting, qPCR, RNA-seq analysis, tissue morphometry, or image-based quantification.
Strong writing skills and interest in developing an independent research direction.
Application Process:
Interested applicants should send the following materials to Mary N. Teruel, Ph.D. at mnt4002@med.cornell.edu:
1. A cover letter describing research experience, career goals, and interest in the position.
2. A current CV.
3. Contact information for three references.
4. One representative first-author or major-contribution publication, preprint, or manuscript, if available.
In the cover letter, applicants should briefly describe their experience with mouse physiology and/or metabolic disease models, their experience with quantitative imaging or cell-signaling approaches, and the type of independent project they would be excited to develop in the lab.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Commitment to Diversity
Weill Cornell Medicine is committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion among our faculty, staff, and students. We seek out individuals with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, and we work to create programs that support both our current employees and our recruitment efforts.
EEO Statement
Weill Cornell Medicine welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “any person, any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Appointment Term:
Initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal based on performance, funding, and mutual agreement..
Starting Date:
Preferred start date is Fall 2026, with flexibility based on completion of current training obligations and visa processing when applicable.
Location of Appointment:
Main Campus, 1300 York Ave., New York
Lab and Department Websites:
Teruel Lab: https://maryteruellab.org
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine: https://biochemistry.weill.cornell.edu
Weill Center for Metabolic Health: https://metabolic.weill.cornell.edu
Salary:
Salary will be commensurate with experience and will comply with the Weill Cornell Medicine postdoctoral collective bargaining agreement.
Benefits:
A summary of employee benefits is available on the WCM Human Resources website.
Visa Options:
Candidates applying for this position could be eligible for a J-1 Exchange visitor visa and the H-1B temporary worker visa.
Union Membership:
This position is covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between Weill Cornell Medicine and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (“UAW”), and its Local Union, Weill Cornell Medicine Postdocs United-UAW Local 4100.
Contact
- Biochemistry and Biophysics