Post Doctoral Fellow
Tulane University

Post Doctoral Fellow

Location:
TNPRC, Covington, LA
Open Date:
Nov 10, 2023
Description:

A post-doctoral position is immediately available in the Division of Immunology at the Tulane National Primate Research Center, affiliated with the School of Medicine at Tulane University. Candidates will investigate the HIV-1/SIV reservoir as it relates to mechanisms of HIV-1 persistence. The overall research focus of the lab is to investigate the role persistent co-pathogens such as CMV in driving HIV-1 reservoir persistence. The lab explores these questions in nonhuman primate models of HIV-1 infection, and the candidate will spearhead a ~30 animal study to understand how the SIV reservoir evolves in the presence or absence of persistent co-pathogens. The candidate should be proficient in flow cytometry, tissue culture, and PCR-based measures of HIV-1/SIV persistence, including total and intact SIV DNA quantification by digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), and qualitative assays to assess HIV-1/SIV integration sites. A working knowledge of R and command-line processing tools is also needed. The candidate should be able to work independently under minimal supervision under biosafety level 2 conditions and maintain detailed experimental records. The postdoctoral fellow should also have some experience submitting jobs to a high-performance computing cluster. Finally, the postdoctoral candidate will assist in daily operational functions of the laboratory, and train, supervise and monitor the performance of lab technical staff and students, as required by the Principal Investigator.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

* Ph.D., D.V.M and/or M.D. in a biological science

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES TYPICALLY NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS JOB SUCCESSFULLY: (Note: The following criteria will not be used in screening qualified applicants but may be considered in the final decision-selection process of candidates interviewed.)

* Prior training in cellular immunology, microbiology, molecular biology or related field

* Previous experience with PCR-based HIV-1/SIV quantitative and qualitative assays

* Strong communication skills, both verbal and written

* Proficiency with common laboratory equipment and techniques required

* Knowledge of command line processing tools for sequencing alignment and de novo assembly, various R packages for visualization, FlowJo, and Graphpad Prism.

* Organization and supervisory skills required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: (Note: The following criteria will not be used in screening qualified applicants and may not be used in lieu of minimum qualifications stated above.)

* Prior experience with HIV-1 reservoir assays in primary patient CD4 T cells

* Command-line skills and one or more other programming languages

* Grant and manuscript writing skills

Candidates must apply in Interfolio and provide the following materials for submission:

•     CV
• Cover Letter
• Contact Reference

Tulane University is located in New Orleans - a city with tremendous history of diverse cultures, community, and languages. Tulane University is committed to creating a community and culture that foster a sense of belonging for all. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We are intentionally seeking candidates who are committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in support of Tulane's Strategy for Tomorrow.

Tulane University is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the Office of Human Resources & Institutional Equity by phone at 504-865-4748 or email hr@tulane.edu.