Post Doctoral Fellow - Internal Medicine (Genetic, Environmental and Inhalational Disease)
About The Position
The Postdoctoral Fellow in the Zamora Lab within the Division of Genetics, Environmental and Inhalation Disease contributes to research examining how chronic and repeated airway inflammation alters immune responses to respiratory pathogens. The work focuses on mechanisms of mucosal immunity relevant to diseases such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with particular emphasis on epithelial and immune cell interactions, inflammatory memory, and host pathogen dynamics. Research activities involve the use of primary human airway epithelial cultures and in vivo murine models to assess how inflamed airway environments impact infection susceptibility and responses to emerging treatments, including bacteriophage-based therapies, within a collaborative and translational research setting.
Requirements
- Ph.D. or MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in immunology, microbiology, cell biology, or a related field.
- Experience in design and data analysis.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with sterile technique, airway epithelial models (e.g., ALI cultures), and/or immune cell biology.
- Experience in host-pathogen interactions, respiratory infections, or inflammatory signaling.
- Familiarity with techniques such as flow cytometry, RNA-seq analysis, or advanced imaging.
- Familiarity with bacteriology and/or virology methods.
Responsibilities
- Design and conduct experiments and interpret data under the mentorship of the Principal Investigator (PI).
- Work independently and collaboratively on research projects.
- Design, execute, and analyze experiments investigating airway inflammation and host-pathogen interactions.
- Work with primary human airway epithelial cultures and immune cells.
- Analyze and interpret complex datasets (e.g., molecular, cellular, and/or omics-based data).
- Assist with development of grant proposals and scientific manuscripts.
- Maintain a current Laboratory Notebook, documenting all calculations, work, experiments, and other pertinent research information.
- Complete research projects under the guidance of the faculty mentor, record and interpret the results of their experiments in an (electronic) laboratory notebook, prepare publication-quality manuscripts (including figures and tables) and publish in peer-reviewed literature.
- Read literature articles, develop new ideas, and assimilate the information into his/her project design/interpretation.
- Interact on a regular basis with their PI, faculty mentor and members of the laboratory to discuss experimental design and interpretation of results.
- Present research aims and findings at department seminars and at local and national scientific meetings.
- Write and publish their results as first author in abstracts, manuscripts, and posters.
- Attend and maintain compliance on all orientation and training sessions designated by the University and the Department, understand and follow IACUC and biosafety protocols, and attend departmental seminars and regular lab meetings.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Health expense accounts with generous employer contributions
- Employer-paid life insurance
- Long-term disability insurance
- Various additional voluntary insurance plans
- Paid time off, including vacation and sick
- Ten paid holidays
- One paid discretionary day after six months of employment
- Paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave after 12 months of employment
- Retirement program with a generous employer contribution
- Additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
