Job Description:

Dr. Lijun Rong’s research group in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is seeking skilled post-doctoral candidates. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong knowledge of virology, molecular biology, and mammalian cell culture, who is interested in antiviral small molecule drug discovery. We currently have multiple NIH-funded projects to study mechanisms of viral entry, replication of emerging viruses, and the development of small molecule therapeutics. This includes SARS-CoV-2, filoviruses (Ebola virus and Marburg virus), influenza viruses, and henipaviruses. Research in the lab covers antiviral assay development, automated high-throughput drug screening, hit-to-lead development, and mechanistic characterization. The candidate must be able to design and execute experiments in an independent manner with minimal supervision.

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities and the largest university in Chicago. UIC is one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI), and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Chicago is home to a large research community with UIC at the heart of the Illinois Medical District. The Microbiology and Immunology Department in collaboration with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences has a robust antiviral research infrastructure with multiple BSL2 and BSL3 laboratories.

The candidates will incorporate these projects, and advance new projects in the broader area of the laboratory's interest. Here is the lab link: https://ronglabmates.wixsite.com/ronglab.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Work with Principal Investigator to design and develop research projects.

• Conduct independent research experiments, including data collection and analysis.

• Test, optimize, and troubleshoot new and existing methods and techniques.

• Prepare scientific results for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

• Communicate results at internal and external scientific conferences.

• Assist in the training of graduate students and research staff.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD or MD/PhD degree in molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, or a related field.

• At least one first-authored, peer-reviewed, publication.

• Knowledge of basic experimental design and statistics.

• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Nice-to-Have :

• Strong background in microbiology, molecular biology, and biochemistry.

• Research experience in high-throughput screening (HTS)

• Prior experience in BSL3 environment

• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and statistical software (GraphPad Prism preferred)

To Apply

Applicants should email a cover letter (which includes a brief description of research experience and future interests), curriculum vitae, and a list of three references. Please send the application materials to Dr. Lijun Rong by email: lijun@uic.edu