Post Doc - Open Rank

An NIH-funded position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Kiera Clayton at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School for an exceptionally talented, motivated, and hardworking postdoctoral fellow to investigate the mechanisms of CD4+ T cell and macrophage resistance to killing by cytolytic immune cells.

Available research projects include the identification of pathways that enhance macrophage survival following NK and CD8+ T cell attack (a collaboration with the Weill Cornell REACH Martin Delaney Collaboratory), assessing NK cell interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages, and herpesvirus-infected CD4+ T cells and macrophages. Experimental methods related to these projects include HIV infections, Mtb infections, and herpesvirus infections with primary immune cells, cellular co-culture assays, flow cytometry and FACS analysis, RNA/CITE-Seq, CRISPR editing of immune cells, and molecular cloning of mutant viruses. The ideal candidate for this position would have a PhD and lab experience in immunology, virology, and biochemistry. Strong candidates will have experience in flow cytometry and working with human cells in BSL-2+ and BSL-3 tissue culture. The successful candidate will join a vibrant research team exploring HIV, Mtb, and herpesvirus immunoevasion mechanisms to design strategies to target the pathogens that establish chronic infections (https://www.clayton-lab.org/).

The postdoctoral fellow will have an appointment at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and will be encouraged to attend national/international conferences, contribute towards manuscript preparation, and fellowship/grant writing. Salary will follow NIH and UMass Chan guidelines. Candidates should send a statement of interest and future goals and a CV to Dr. Kiera Clayton at kiera.clayton@umassmed.edu. A minimum of three years commitment to the position is required.