Postdoctoral Fellow, Self-healing Restoratives

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the ADA Forsyth Institute, your primary responsibilities will include independently planning and executing experiments related to bioactive dental restoratives. You'll design and characterize dental adhesives and composites, perform experiments to enhance their performance, and analyze experimental data while maintaining detailed documentation. A vital aspect of your role will also be collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to the development and technology transfer of innovative dental products, which will have a lasting impact on oral health.

To qualify for the Postdoctoral Fellow position at the ADA Forsyth Institute, you should hold a PhD, DDS, or an equivalent degree in a relevant field such as dentistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering. Strong analytical and experimental skills are crucial, as is the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team. Attention to detail, motivation, and excellent interpersonal communication skills are highly valued, making you an ideal candidate for this role.

The Postdoctoral Fellow at ADA Forsyth Institute will work on a cutting-edge project aimed at developing bioactive dental restoratives with self-healing capabilities. This five-year project, funded by the NIDCR, will leverage hybrid modeling and simulation approaches to refine material formulations tailored to individual patient needs. You'll be involved in designing experiments, optimizing dental materials, and collaborating with experts in AI, microbiology, and materials science to transform dental care practices.

While the position requires a solid foundation in relevant fields, candidates with preferred qualifications will stand out. Experience in dental bonding procedures, composite testing, and calcium phosphate mineralization will be particularly advantageous. Familiarity with advanced instruments such as spectrometers, SEM, and nanoindenters will enhance your application, demonstrating your readiness to engage with complex research tasks at the ADA Forsyth Institute.

At the ADA Forsyth Institute, you will have access to numerous professional development opportunities, including participation in NIH training programs aimed at enhancing your research skills and knowledge base. The supportive environment fosters growth and collaboration, allowing you to build a robust network within the field of dental research, further enriching your career trajectory and helping you make significant contributions to global oral health.

When answering this question, discuss specific projects where you designed or optimized dental adhesives. Highlight your methodologies, the challenges faced, and the results you achieved. Mention any relevant outcomes, like improved bonding strength or innovative materials you used, to provide tangible evidence of your capabilities.

Address the potential challenges you might encounter, such as material compatibility, long-term durability, and regulatory compliance. Show your understanding of the complexities involved in translating lab results into clinical applications and discuss any previous experiences where you overcame similar obstacles.

Explain your approach to teamwork, focusing on communication, respect for diverse expertise, and adaptability. Use examples from your previous experiences where collaboration led to successful outcomes, emphasizing how you leveraged others' strengths to enhance your contributions.

List the techniques you are familiar with, such as scanning electron microscopy or nanoindentation. Describe how these methods helped you gain insights into the performance and reliability of the materials, providing specific examples where relevant.

Discuss your strategies for maintaining accuracy, such as implementing strict protocols, repeated trials, and detailed documentation. Emphasize the importance of peer review and continuous learning in ensuring the reliability of your results.

Share an anecdote about a setback in your research. Focus on your problem-solving approach, what you learned, and how you adapted your experimental plans. This demonstrates resilience and the ability to learn from challenges.

Your response should reflect a genuine passion for improving patient outcomes through innovative materials. Discuss experiences that sparked your interest in dental research, and emphasize your commitment to making a meaningful impact in the field.

Provide a clear and concise definition of bioactivity, emphasizing how it relates to the ability of materials to interact positively with biological systems. Use examples of bioactive materials you've studied or worked with to reinforce your explanation.

Talk about a project where you led the development of a novel dental material. Highlight your role, methodologies, challenges, and the results, particularly focusing on how it improved existing options or addressed a specific need in dental care.

Share your strategies for effective time management, such as setting clear goals, breaking down complex projects into manageable tasks, and using project management tools. Provide examples of how this approach has helped you meet deadlines and achieve results.