Postdoctoral Fellow, Infection Immunodiagnostics & Immunopathogenesis

As one of the oldest medical schools in the country, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (COM) has a reputation for training best-in-class health care professionals and developing cutting-edge procedures and research that improve the health and clinical care of patients. In partnership with the UC Health academic healthcare system and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, College of Medicine's faculty are transforming the world of medicine every day. The Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences is a top-tier department with world-renowned faculty and staff.

A full-time Postdoctoral Fellow position is available in the Immunopathogenesis/ Immunotoxicology laboratory of Dr. Jagjit Yadav at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The position is focused on immunology research on a mycobacterial lung disease, with emphasis on immunodiagnostics and immunopathogenesis. The research will involve identifying immune determinants (epitopes)/immunopeptidome and immunogen-specific host biomarkers associated with disease pathogenesis, with the long-term goal of developing differential diagnostics and understanding antigen presentation and other immune mechanisms of the disease. The work will involve use of seroreactive protein arrays, immunopeptidomics (MHC peptide identification), recombinant expression, immunoassays, and lymphocyte immunophenotyping to identify disease-specific cellular and molecular immune signatures, followed by development of multiplex assays and lymphocyte biomarkers of the disease.

• Design, perform, troubleshoot, and analyze experiments related to pathogen antigens/epitopes and host immune responses in in-vitro/ex-vivo cellular and in-vivo models of mycobacterial lung disease.
• Conduct B- and T-cell epitope discovery experiments using high-throughput serologic, cellular, and proteomic approaches involving high-density peptide arrays, immunopeptidomic platform, and multiplex immunoassays.
• Perform recombinant/synthetic generation and downstream characterization of candidate immunogens. Perform validation studies using mouse models and patient biospecimens.
• Carry out immune profiling studies on patient and control biospecimens (blood, sputum, BALF), including lymphocyte subset analysis and identification of antigen-specific molecular signatures/biomarkers using flow cytometry and single-cell OMICs approaches.
• Maintain accurate research records and contribute to data analysis, manuscript preparation, grant-related reports, and scientific presentations.
• Collaborate with investigators across immunology, microbiology, immunoproteomics, and assay development research expertise.
• Keep informed of developments in the field of microbial lung disease immunodiagnostics /immunopathogenesis to maintain and enhance professional expertise.
• Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities.
• Play an active role in seeking career and research advice from the faculty supervisor and other faculty members.
• Lab maintenance, including equipment maintenance and ordering of supplies, as needed.

• Prior to effective date of appointment, a PhD or equivalent degree in immunology, infection microbiology, or a related branch of life sciences.

• Prior experience in immunological, microbiological, and molecular biology techniques relevant in infectious/immune lung disease studies or basic vaccinology research, such as immunoassays, flow cytometry, antigen/epitope discovery, immunopeptidomics, T-cell activation, and/or molecular cloning/recombinant expression.

• Salary will be commensurate with relevant experience.

Interested candidates may email their CV to yadavjs@ucmail.uc.edu