POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE

Occ Summary

Conduct independent research activities under the guidance of a facultymentor in preparation for a full time academic or research career.

Job description: The lab of Dr. Ayasoufi at Duke University is currently recruiting for the position, Post Doctoral Associate to join our neuroimmunology team. Our lab focuses on mechanisms of immunosuppression induced by various neurological injuries. The successful candidate will perform a variety of assays including high parameter flow cytometry, analysis of bulk RNA-Seq, single cell RNA-seq, and analysis of methylation arrays. The projects specific to this position will be related to immunological changes in mice and patients with glioblastoma, viral encephalitis, and epilepsy. In addition, we are interested in evaluating human and mouse local and systemic immune changes in the context of Alzheimer’s disease setting. Diverse and underrepresented minorities are highly encouraged to apply.

About us: The Ayasoufi lab is interested in mechanisms of immunosuppression in patients with acute and chronic neurological trauma. Patients with brain tumors and many other brain injuries are in a state of lowered immunity and have severe immunosuppression. This mechanism of how this immunosuppression occurs is not well-understood. Immunosuppression following brain trauma is a critical barrier to development of immune-modulating therapies for patients. We are interested in understanding how brain tumors and other brain injuries induce immunosuppression. We are a neuroimmunology lab that will be using both mouse models and patient samples to investigate immune changes during brain tumor growth or following brain injury. Our lab is focused on studying the neuroimmune connection between acute and chronic brain insults and changes in the immune system. We will be working with mouse and patient samples in order to determine specific immune changes that occur in primary and secondary lymphoid tissues including the blood, the thymus, the spleen, lymph nodes, and the bone marrow. In addition, we will be analyzing mouse and human brain tissues for immune cell infiltration and perform mechanistic studies related to glioblastoma and other brain tumors. Our studies will help design novel therapeutics for patients with acute and chronic neurological disease including glioblastoma.

Eligibility: PhD, MD, MD/PHD, or equivalent degree in Biology, Medicine, Immunology, Neuroscience, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.

Responsibilities will include:

1. Performing experiments independently following a brief period of training
2. Analyzing data
3. Presenting data locally and at conferences
4. Mouse handling including small animal surgery and imaging, mouse monitoring, euthanasia and tissue collection
5. Tissue processing and flow cytometry
6. Tissue culture and aseptic technique
7. Applying for independent funding
8. Training graduate students and technicians in the lab

Specific experiences in the following areas are a plus, but not required:

1. Experience with flow cytometry, especially spectral flow cytometry
2. Mouse husbandry and handling
3. Tissue processing and staining
4. Small animal surgery
5. MRI imaging or analysis
6. Analysis of sequencing data

Minimum Qualifications

Education

See job description for education requirements.

Experience

See job description for requirements.

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