Postdoctoral Associate, Boston University, NEIDL

The Saeed laboratory at Boston University’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) invites applications for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate to lead an exciting project exploring the dynamic interplay between positive-strand RNA viruses and antiviral immunity. The position offers an outstanding opportunity to investigate the molecular details of how viruses evade host defense mechanisms in humans and other species. 

The successful candidate will leverage cutting-edge approaches—including advanced proteomics, stem cell-derived models of viral infection, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, proximity labeling, single-cell RNA sequencing, and high-resolution cell imaging—to tackle fundamental questions in virus-host interactions.

The project’s strong conceptual and technological foundation provides an exceptional platform for impactful discoveries and high-quality publications. We are looking for a creative, driven scientist ready to push the boundaries of virology and innate immunity research in a collaborative and supportive environment.

The candidate will benefit from:

• The high-tech facilities and an extremely resourceful environment of the NEIDL (https://www.bu.edu/neidl/)

• Saeed lab’s ongoing collaborations with Harvard Medical School, MIT, Broad Institute, and Boston University School of Medicine

• Saeed lab’s close partnerships with Boston University’s Center for Regenerative Medicine (https://www.bu.edu/dbin/stemcells/) and Proteomics center (https://cnsb.bu.edu/home-page/)

• NEIDL’s extraordinary seminar series featuring world-renowned experts in virology, emerging infectious diseases, and immunology

• A large number of outstanding benefit programs offered by the Boston University (www.bu.edu/benefits)

• A highly rich academic environment of the city of Boston.

The ideal candidate should have a recent Ph.D. or equivalent degree in molecular biology, extensive experience with viruses (ideally positive-strand RNA viruses) and innate immunity, first-author publications in peer reviewed journals, strong communication and analytical abilities, and enthusiasm for basic science research. The candidates proficient in proteomics and/or computational biology will be preferred.

Please send your cover letter and resume/CV to Dr. Mohsan Saeed at [email protected]

Some of our recent publications include:

• Caobi et al., SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 enhances viral virulence by subverting host antiviral defenses. 2025. PNAS.

• Chen DY, et al., Spike and nsp6 are key determinants of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 attenuation. 2023. Nature.

• Weingarten-Gabbay S, et al., Profiling SARS-CoV-2 HLA-1 peptidome reveals T cell epitopes from out-of-frame ORFs. 2021. Cell.

• Chen DY, et al., SARS-CoV-2 disrupts proximal elements in the JAK-STAT pathway. 2021. Journal of Virology.

• Saeed M, et al., Defining the proteolytic landscape during enterovirus infection. 2020. PLoS Pathogens.