New

Postdoctoral Scholar

The Pennsylvania State University
remote work
United States, Pennsylvania, University Park
201 Old Main (Show on map)
Oct 30, 2025
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants. This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the termlengthdiscussed willbebasedonuniversityneed,performance,and/oravailabilityoffunding. POSITION SPECIFICS A Postdoctoral Scholar position for the project "Milk Protein-Based Amorphous Solid Dispersion for Delivery of Hydrophobic APIs" is available in the Food Science Department at The Pennsylvania State University (University Park). The project is funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, through program PAR-20-299 (Translational Research in Maternal and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics). We intend to demonstrate that casein proteins from bovine milk can be used to create amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) of insoluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). These casein-based API-ASD can be readily dispersed in water and are intended to be used as ethanol-free oral liquid formulations for infants and children. In this project, we will (1) elucidate the key environmental stimuli conducive to the formation of casein-based ASD with high loading capacity, and excellent instant properties, (2) determine the stability and release kinetics of ASD in response to pH and to model digestion systems, and (3) determine the in vivo bioavailability of one casein-based ritonavir ASD and one casein-based furosemide ASD. The latter experiments will show that API-ASDs are dispersible in an aqueous phase and exhibit appropriate bioavailability. Interested applicants must have a Ph.D. in food/biochemical/biomedical engineering, food science, or related fields completed by the start date. Desired qualifications include previous experience in biophysical chemistry of proteins and lipids and working with animal models. The successful applicant will have access to modern research laboratories and pilot plants in the Food Science Building, as well as the Huck Institute of Life Sciences, and the Materials Research Institute at Penn State University. Applicants should have a strong publication record, exhibit creativity in their work, and enjoy collaborative interactions. The position should be filled by January 15, 2026. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants must upload a CV, names of three professional references, and cover letter describing research interests and career goals. Application materials should be addressed to Dr. Federico Harte (fmh14@psu.edu). BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. 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