Postdoctoral Fellow

LHRI - The Laboratory of Human Retrovirology and Immunoinformatics (LHRI), Clinical Services Program, Applied/ Developmental Directorate, has investigated mechanisms multiple drug resistance (MDR) of HIV and innate immune response against HIV or HIV related virus infection collaborating with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

To develop novel immune therapies for MDR-HIV or other virus-infected patients, LHRI has investigated anti-viral activity of multiple cytokine(s) and immune responses against virus infection, and discovered Interleukin (IL)-27 and IL-29 (Interferon-labmda1) as novel anti-HIV cytokines (Blood 2007, AIDS 2008, JICR 2010, PlosOne 2013, Nuc.Acid.Res 2013), novel micro RNAs as anti-viral/tumore RNAs (BBRC 2013, Sci.Rep 2018), Ku70 protein as a novel cytosolic DNA sensor that induces a novel innate immune response ( J.I. 2011, Sci.Signal 2017). LHRI has elucided SPTNBN1 as a host restriction factor for HIV infection (JEM 2013) and a novel cell signal pathways via non-coding small RNAs (Nuc.Acid.Res 2013). Currently LHRI has also developed a novel gene therapy to suppress virus replication.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Postdoctoral Fellow will:

• Directly work with the Lab head and involve in the development of novel gene therapies to suppress MDR-HIV or other virus replication utilizing a combination of CRISPR/Case9 (or other gene editing methods) and other protocols
• Identify protein/gene that suppresses HIV or other virus infection using protein mass/gene micro array/NGS/2DIG and then characterize the mechanism of the inhibition
• Publish paper(s) and present the findings in international or domestic scientific conference(s)

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below:

• Possession of a PhD or MD/PhD degree from an accredited college or university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education). Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• No experience beyond the Doctorate degree required
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration:

• General molecular biology techniques (long RT-PCR, loning of genes, genomic DNA isolation, construction of expression plasmids)
  • Tissue culture (cell lines and primary human cells:T cells, monocytes, NK cells,dendritic cells and macrophages)
  • DNA, RNA or protein transfection
  • Qrt-PCR
  • Flow cytometer analysis using Flow Joe
  • Western blotting
  • Immuno precipitation (pull down) assay
  • Native or recombinant protein isolation using FPLC or HPLC
  • Alpha screening
  • Confocal microscopy
  • AMNIS
  • CRISPR technology
  • Protein mass and genechip assay
  • Handling of replication competent HIV virus and lentivirus
  • NGS analysis
  • Gel-shift (EMSA) assay

Expected Competencies:

• Strong background in immunology or HIV virology. The ability to challenge and establish new assay system(s)

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) | Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran (M/F/D/V) | Drug Free Workplace (DFW)