Postdoctoral Scholar HIV Immunology

University of South Florida • Tampa, FL

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About The Position

The Sather Laboratory at the University of South Florida (USF) is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to join a multi-disciplinary research team focused on HIV-1 humoral immunity. This position will investigate the mechanisms of B cell stimulation, maturation, and somatic mutation during both natural HIV-1 infection and vaccination. The selected fellow will play a critical role in studying the initiation and maintenance of germinal center responses and how these dynamics dictate the phenotype and function of resulting anti-Env antibodies. Applicants must submit a complete application packet as one combined PDF document, which includes a cover letter and curriculum vitae. Applications that are incomplete or missing required materials will not be considered. Utilizing cutting-edge approaches for the study of B cell repertoires and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), the researcher will be responsible for defining the pathways through which the immune system develops broad and potent responses against the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein. This work will integrate longitudinal analysis of immune responses to provide insights into the development of next-generation HIV vaccine strategies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Immunity, or a closely related field, awarded within the past five years or expected before the start date.
• Demonstrated familiarity with standard antibody analysis assays and immune monitoring technologies.
• Proven ability to conduct independent, hypothesis-driven research, analyze complex immunological datasets, and publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment involving immunologists and virologists.

Nice To Haves

• Extensive experience in FACS and single-cell B cell sorting for the isolation and reconstruction of monoclonal antibodies.
• Proficiency in biophysical characterization of antibodies, specifically determining binding kinetics via biolayer interferometry (BLI).
• Experience with 10X Genomics or similar cutting-edge platforms for B cell repertoire analysis.
• Familiarity with recombinant protein expression and production in mammalian systems (e.g., HEK293) for the generation of HIV-1 Env antigens.
• Experience mentoring students and contributing to the development of grant proposals.

Responsibilities

• Study B cell maturation and somatic mutation to define the requirements for eliciting potent anti-Env antibody responses.
• Investigate germinal center responses, specifically focusing on the initiation and long-term maintenance of these responses during vaccination or infection.
• Isolate and characterize monoclonal antibodies using single-cell technologies to define their molecular and functional properties.
• Characterize binding kinetics and biophysical properties of antibodies using BLI and other standard technologies.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to integrate repertoire data with functional outcomes to guide vaccine design.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree