University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, United States
Deadline: 17 January 2022
An NIH-funded position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Kiera Clayton at the University of Massachusetts Medical School for an exceptionally talented, motivated, and hardworking postdoctoral fellow to investigate the mechanisms of macrophage resistance to killing by cytolytic immune cells. Available research projects include the identification of pathways that enhance macrophage survival from killer NK and CD8+ T cell interactions (a collaboration with the Weill Cornell REACH Martin Delaney Collaboratory), characterization of NK cells that differentially respond to CD4+ T cells versus macrophages, and assessing NK cell interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Ebola virus-infected macrophages (collaborations with MIT/Ragon Institute and Boston University, respectively), and others. Experimental methods related to these projects include HIV infections with primary immune cells, cellular co-culture assays, flow cytometry and FACS analysis, RNA-Seq, CRISPR editing of immune cells, and molecular cloning of mutant viruses. The ideal candidate for this position would have a PhD and lab experience in immunology, virology, and biochemistry. Strong candidates will have experience in flow cytometry and working with human cells in BSL-2+ tissue culture. The successful candidate will join a vibrant research team exploring mechanisms of HIV reservoir persistence, inflammation related to the development of co-morbidities, and pathways involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Ebola virus survival in macrophages (https://www.clayton-lab.org/). The postdoctoral fellow will have an appointment at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, will be encouraged to attend national/international conferences, and contribute towards manuscript and grant preparation. Salary will follow NIH and UMass Med guidelines. Candidates should send a statement of interest and future goals and a CV to Dr. Kiera Clayton at kiera.clayton@umassmed.edu. While three letters of reference from mentors will ultimately be required, this is not needed for first contact.