Postdoctoral Researcher

Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Description.      The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state’s flagship institution, dedicated to fostering discovery, innovation, and entrepreneurship through rigorous academic programs, hands-on research and Interdisciplinary collaborations to address critical issues. The UMD School of Medicine emphasizes global citizenship through international study and offers unique opportunities for learning, research, and professional development. The CVD is a rich environment involving scientists and physicians working in all phases of vaccine development. The CVD has earned an international reputation for genetically engineering and testing vaccines against a wide variety of enteric and other infections. Based in the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the CVD, established in the 70’s, remains one of only a handful of vaccine centers in the world engaged in the full range of vaccinology: from basic science through vaccine development, immunological studies, clinical evaluation and field studies. The CVD offers a nurturing environment that focuses on training and supporting post-doctoral fellows in their path towards independence. Company Description Role Description    We are seeking postdoctoral fellows to work on immunological studies directed at understanding immune responses and uncovering immunological correlates of protection following immunization and infection in humans with the long-term goal of accelerating the development of novel vaccines. Studies will include exploration of the mechanisms operative in the generation of systemic and mucosal immunity in children, young adults and the elderly. These studies will involve participants immunized with licensed or investigational attenuated and subunit vaccines, as well as volunteers challenged with wild-type organisms.   Studies will involve the use of advanced technologies and instrumentation such as high-parameter flow cytometry and mass cytometry (52+ parameters/cell) with a focus on complex data analyses, as well as the performance of a variety of molecular biology and immunological techniques depending on the research questions being addressed. These include, among others, functional assays (e.g., cell purification, proliferation, cytotoxic T cell activity, Elispot, regulatory T cell activity, identification of T cell epitopes, B cell maturation and function), multiplexed cytokines, chemokines & biomarker determinations, bulk transcriptomics on heterogeneous populations and sorted cell subsets, single cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics, CITE-seq, TCR repertoire analyses and epigenetic landscape determinations (ATAC-seq, EpiTOF, CUT&RUN).    Post-doctoral fellows will be directly responsible for designing experimental procedures in collaboration with faculty and research teams, performing experiments and data analysis, writing scholarly publications and participate in the writing of grants reports. Responsibilities may also include teaching undergraduate or graduate-level courses, mentoring students. The candidate is expected to participate in departmental seminars, workshops, and interdisciplinary collaborations and present their work at National/International Meetings.Qualifications • Strong laboratory skills and expertise in experimental techniques in molecular biology, bioinformatics and systems biology analyses, as well as experience in flow and mass cytometry and other immunological techniques, particularly epigenetics, scRNA-seq and/or TCR-repertoire analyses.• Excellent written and verbal communication skills• Ability to collaborate effectively within a team and work independently• The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. in Microbiology/Immunology and/or M.D. degree, experience in the study of immunological mechanisms, a strong publication track record, be highly motivated, have outstanding organizational skills and great attention to detail, high scientific integrity and rigor, excellent written and oral communication skills.• Be a citizen, permanent resident or hold a valid VISA to work in the U.S. To be considered for this position, the citizenship or VISA status should be clearly stated in the CV and application• Post-doctoral fellowships are initially for one year, but they may be renewed annually based on progress and performance for up to a maximum of 5 years