Jobs › Medical College of Wisconsin

Postdoctoral Researcher - Physiology

Medical College of Wisconsin · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 18, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Medical College of Wisconsin

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about your PhD project and the one finding you're most proud of.

What they are checking: Whether they can explain their science clearly and show they drove the work themselves.

The lab combines wet lab and computational work. Where are you strongest, and how would you close the gap on the other side?

What they are checking: Whether they know their own limits honestly and have a plan to grow in an interdisciplinary lab.

Tell me about a time your results contradicted a published paper or your PI's hypothesis. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they handle unexpected data with rigor and honesty rather than forcing a story.

What are your goals after this postdoc, and how would this lab help you get there?

What they are checking: Whether they have a clear career direction such as fellowship applications, which shapes how they will lead projects.

What would you do

You'd be leading projects. How do you plan your time across several experiments, analysis and writing?

What they are checking: Whether they can run long mouse studies and analysis in parallel without stalling papers.

About the work

How would you design a mouse study to test whether a candidate gene drives diet-induced obesity?

What they are checking: Whether they can plan a sound experiment with proper controls, sex, diet timing and phenotyping.

What's your experience with single-cell or spatial omics, and what are the biggest pitfalls in analyzing that data?

What they are checking: Whether they understand batch effects, quality control and over-interpretation in high-dimensional data.

Walk me through how you'd set up a CRISPR screen to find regulators of a metabolic pathway.

What they are checking: Whether they understand library design, readouts and hit validation, not just the general idea.

How would you study crosstalk between the liver and fat tissue in a living animal?

What they are checking: Whether they can think about whole-body physiology, not just isolated cells.

How would you take a genetic variant found in patient data and test whether it actually causes disease?

What they are checking: Whether they can connect human genetics to functional experiments, which is the core of this program.

How do you make sure your computational analysis can be reproduced by someone else in the lab?

What they are checking: Whether they use version control, documented code and clear pipelines rather than one-off scripts.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Medical College of Wisconsin from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Medical College of Wisconsin.

Summary The Xiao Lab in the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to join an interdisciplinary research program investigating the genetic and epigenetic basis of cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity, metabolic liver disease, and cardiovascular disease. We integrate experimental and computational approaches to understand disease mechanisms and aim to translate our discoveries into new strategies for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of cardiometabolic disorders. The successful candidate will conduct physiological studies using mouse models and analyze mouse and patient-derived cells and tissues using comprehensive omics approaches, including functional genomics, single-cell and spatial omics, CRISPR-based screening, and proteomics. The goal of this research is to identify the genes, genetic variants, regulatory pathways, and cellular mechanisms that drive the development and progression of cardiometabolic disease. Primary Responsibilities • Lead research projects investigating the genetics, epigenetics, and inter-organ crosstalk associated with cardiometabolic diseases. • Conduct physiological studies using genetically modified and diet-induced mouse models of obesity and cardiometabolic disease. • Perform molecular and cellular experiments using mouse and human tissues/cells, including cloning, PCR, immunoblotting, and reporter assays. • Generate, analyze, and interpret large-scale functional genomic, single-cell and spatial omics, transcriptomic, and proteomic datasets. • Prepare manuscripts, scientific presentations, progress reports, and grant applications. • Present research findings at laboratory meetings and scientific conferences. • Mentor trainees, as appropriate, and contribute to a highly interactive and collaborative research environment. • Other duties as assigned. ​ ​​ Knowledge – Skills – Abilities • Experience with mouse models and/or mammalian cell culture. • Hands-on experience with molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology techniques, including DNA and RNA extraction and immunoblotting. • Experience with functional genomics and single-cell omics is preferred. • Experience analyzing data using R and/or Python is preferred. • Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment. • A publication record demonstrating research productivity and scientific excellence. Qualifications Minimum Required Education: PhD in a scientific field or MD Minimum Required Experience: 0 Years Preferred Education : PhD or MD/PhD in physiology, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, genomics, or a related field. Preferred Experience: M ouse models and/or mammalian cell culture; molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology techniques, and functional genomics and single-cell omics; bioinformatics. Physical Requirements Work requires occasionally lifting moderate weight materials, standing, or walking continuously. Work Environment Occasional exposure to dust, noise, temperature changes, or contact with water or other liquids. Work is performed in an environmentally controlled environment. Sensory Acuity Ability to detect and translate speech or other communication required . May occasionally require the ability to distinguish colors and perceive relative distances between objects. Why MCW? • Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental. Along with Flexible Spending options • 403B Retirement Package • Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered • Tuition Reimbursement • Paid Parental Leave • Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) • Pet Insurance • On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes • Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc. For a brief overview of our benefits see: Benefits Overview For a full list of positions see: MCW Careers At MCW all of our endeavors, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: Caring – Collaborative – Curiosity – Inclusive – Integrity – Respect. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives through merit-based processes and in alignment with all applicable laws. We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. Our values define who we are, what we stand for and how we conduct ourselves at MCW. If you believe in embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you. For more information, please visit our institutional website . MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination: The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

Apply at Medical College of Wisconsin