POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Summary

The Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics at Duke University invite applications for a postdoctoral associate position in mathematical modeling, as part of a new NIH-funded Center for Excellence in Multiscale Immune Systems Modeling. This position focuses on the development, calibration, and analysis of multiscale agent-based models (ABMs) and differential equation models for Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) and HIV-1 infection dynamics in human lymphoid tissue. New mathematical models will be informed by longitudinal experimental data, including multiplexed spatial proteomics, transcriptomics, collected from state-of-the-art microfluidic lymph node on-a-chip systems used to study infection initiation and immune response.

 The postdoc will be co-mentored by an interdisciplinary team of biologists and mathematicians including:

• Dr. Kevin Flores (Mathematics, North Carolina State University)
• Dr. Micah Luftig (Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University)
• Dr. Cliburn Chan (Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Duke University)
• Dr. John Hickey (Biomedical Engineering, Duke University)
• Dr. Jessica Conway (Mathematics & Biology, Penn State University)
• Dr. Elliott SoRelle (Microbiology & Immunology, University of Michigan)

Job Duties                                       

• Develop multiscale ABMs of multi-cellular immune cell populations and virus interactions.
• Build organism-scale ODE/PDE/stochastic models based on ABM outputs and experimental data.
• Perform sensitivity analysis, parameter estimation, and uncertainty quantification utilizing multiscale experimental data.
• Collaborate closely with experimentalists to iteratively refine models and optimize experimental design.
• Collaborate with another postdoc in the NIH Center to use scientific machine learning (SciML) to automatically select mathematical models from data.

Minimum Requirements: 

• Ph.D. in applied mathematics, computational biology, quantitative biology, or a related field.
• Experience in ABM development and ODE/PDE modeling and analysis.
• Strong programming skills (Python, Julia, Matlab, C++, or similar).
• Experience in interdisciplinary team-based research.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Prior research experience in computational biology, applied mathematics, or quantitative biology.
• Familiarity with numerical methods, parameter estimation, and data visualization.
• Some knowledge of probability and statistics.

 Other Requirements: 

• CV
• Research Statement
• 3 Reference Letters
• Cover Letter
• Full-time, 12-month position with possibility of renewal.
• Hybrid eligible. The position (exempt only) is partially remote, and the employee must willing to relocate to Durham, NC.

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