Postdoctoral Fellowship Position Available

National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the largest institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), conducts and supports a global program of research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.

The Molecular Pathogenesis Section in the Laboratory of Virology within NIAID is recruiting for a postdoctoral IRTA position on the neuropathogenesis of emerging respiratory viruses. The position is located at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana.

The Molecular Pathogenesis Section studies high- and maximum-containment RNA viruses that cause severe lower respiratory tract disease, including Nipah virus, coronaviruses, and influenza A virus. The section is interested in the pathogenesis of emerging respiratory viruses on every level from host to molecule. The laboratory uses an experimental approach to increase our understanding of the disease induced by emerging respiratory viruses in the upper and lower respiratory tract, as well as in the central nervous system. Fundamental experimental approaches of the laboratory include molecular and cell-based techniques, including in human organoid cultures and a variety of animal models. Studies are carried out in biosafety level (BSL)-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4 laboratories.

The section considers diversity and inclusion the centerpiece of the team’s culture. See more information about the Molecular Pathogenesis Section

Successful applicants will be part of a diverse and multidisciplinary team focused on experimental approaches to relevant questions in the neuropathogenesis of emerging respiratory viruses, with a specific focus on the pathogenesis of Nipah virus in the central nervous system (CNS). The project will rely on the establishment of human organoid cultures and animal models suitable for studying Nipah virus infection in the CNS and using these in subsequent experiments studying the disease mechanism. The project may be broadened to other emerging respiratory viruses that cause neurological disease.

Selected publications of the Molecular Pathogenesis Section’s recent research are as follows:

• Twenty Years of Nipah Virus Research: Where Do We Go From Here? J Infect Dis. 2020 May 11;221(Suppl 4):S359-S362.

• Late remdesivir treatment initiation partially protects African green monkeys from lethal Nipah virus infection. Antiviral Res. 2023 Aug;216:105658.

• The neuropathogenesis of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5Nx viruses in mammalian species including humans. Trends Neurosci. 2023 Nov;46(11):953-970.

Qualifications

Required

• Ph.D. in virology, molecular biology, or another appropriate discipline with less than two years of postdoctoral experience

• Well-developed oral and written communication skills

Highly motivated candidates who have a strong background in virology, molecular biology, computational biology, and immunology are encouraged to apply. Experience working in high-containment virology and working with organoids and animal models would be considered an advantage.

Applicants may be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or international citizens (for an IRTA, visa requirements apply).

Pay and Benefits

Trainees will receive health insurance and a stipend commensurate with experience starting at $67,200 per year. With one of the largest postdoc populations in the nation, NIH consists of more than 1,200 laboratories/research projects. The NIH Postdoctoral IRTA Fellowship program provides recent doctoral degree recipients the opportunity to enhance their research skills in the resource-rich NIH environment.

Situated in the Bitterroot Valley of southwestern Montana, with easy access to some of the finest outdoor recreational opportunities in North America, RML is an NIAID campus with excellent flow cytometry, genomic, cryo-electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and veterinary core support that enables scientists to completely focus on their research. See more information about RML.

To Apply

Interested candidates should send the following via email to Kay Menk, Laboratory Operations Specialist, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH at menkk@niaid.nih.gov no later than January 27, 2024:

• Curriculum vitae

• A letter expressing career goals and interests

• Three letters of reference with contact information

Visit NIAID Careers for more information about working in NIAID’s dynamic atmosphere.

HHS, NIH, and NIAID are equal opportunity employers dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion.