Position Summary

The laboratory of Dr. Melissa Mavers studies graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), an immune-mediated complication of stem cell transplantation. Through transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional analyses of immune regulatory cells, the Mavers Lab seeks to enhance understanding of the role of immunosuppressive cells in GVHD. The laboratory has the goal of using a bench-to-bedside approach for developing a cellular therapy for GVHD, engineering viable approaches to prevention and cure.

The Mavers Lab is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate the role of human and murine invariant natural killer T cells in GVHD, which have particular promise as a therapeutic. The appointment is viewed as a training or transitional period preparatory to an academic, industrial, governmental, or other full-time research or teaching career. The successful candidate will take ownership of their research project(s) and drive the project(s) forward through well-designed experimentation and data interpretation, while maintaining high work ethics.

In this position, the candidate will have the opportunity to engage in research using advanced immunologic techniques, including mouse and xenograft models, transgene delivery and/or gene editing, immunologic assays, and single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics. In addition to further technical training opportunities, Dr. Mavers assists in growing your scientific acumen and professional repertoire, as well as career mentorship and sponsorship.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Information on being a postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/.

Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to):

• Independently performs experiments and data analysis, putting results into context within the literature of the field (with guidance from PI).
• Designs experiments employing immunologic assays and GVHD models to evaluate invariant natural killer T cell function.
• Optimizes transgene delivery to engineer invariant natural killer T cells for enhanced GVHD suppression.
• Presents data at conferences and writes research papers. Writes and submits grant proposals.
• Facilitates collaborative projects in which the laboratory is engaged, as related to the postdoctoral research associate’s project(s).
• Assists the PI in maintaining a laboratory environment of growth and support with an inclusive culture, including training and mentoring research staff and students.

Working Conditions

This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Salary Range

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree.

Certifications:

No specific certification is required for this position.

Work Experience:

No specific work experience is required for this position.

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive research experience in immunology and/or cell biology, molecular biology.
• Previous experience with analysis of immune cells, use of pre-clinical GVHD models, and/or lentiviral transduction/CRISPR will be considered an advantage.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

No additional education beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Certifications:

No additional certification beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Skills:

Not