Graduate students interested in joining the Sharma Lab should apply to the BME graduate program through the BME Graduate School application (as outlined here) and be sure to list our lab as an area of interest in your research statement. Interested students are then encouraged to email Dr. Sharma with a resume or CV and a brief statement detailing your research interests and goals. We are recruiting for the Fall of 2024.

Undergraduate students interested in joining the lab are encouraged to email Dr. Sharma with a resume or CV and a brief statement detailing your research interests and goals.

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join our highly collaborative and multidisciplinary team in nanomaterials and regenerative medicine. This position is supported by funding from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing innovative nanomaterial-based strategies for the treatment of joint injuries and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread and debilitating degenerative joint disease for which no cure or effective therapy currently exists. Oxidative stress plays a central role in OA progression and the associated inflammatory and neuropathic pain, making it a key therapeutic target. However, conventional antioxidants have been clinically disappointing, primarily due to the instability and limited joint bioavailability. This project aims to overcome these challenges by engineering synthetic nanomaterials with stabilized antioxidant properties, tailored for retention and targeted delivery to osteoarthritic cartilage. As a postdoctoral fellow on this project, you will have the opportunity to 1) interrogate the biocatalytic mechanisms and structure-function relationships of antioxidant nanomaterials for cartilage protection and/or 2) investigate their impact on inflammatory and neuropathic pain mechanisms. These studies will involve close collaboration with experts in redox biology, pain research, and veterinary and human orthopedics.

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Ph.D. Degree in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, or related field.
• Strong communication skills.
• Proficiency in working independently as well as collaboratively in a diverse and multidisciplinary research environment.
• Track record of research productivity, including publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in nanomaterial synthesis and characterization.
• Experience with cell culture and animal models.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest highlighting their research interests and long-term goals, curriculum vitae, and the contact information for three or more references to blanka.sharma@bme.ufl.edu.