The University of Virginia School of Medicine Department of Cell Biology seeks a newly minted postdoctoral research associate for exploration of a recently identified and novel cell death mechanism in bacteria in Dr. Gordon Laurie's lab . The discovery (article in prep) emerged from an unbiased resistance screen of the E. coli Keio collection with validation using P. aeruginosa PA 14 mutants, ligand binding studies, imaging flow cytometry, surface plasmon resonance, a synthetic peptide library and C. elegans infectivity.  Work will focus on several resistance mutants whose link to the cell death mechanism has not yet been studied and to possible synergy with other bactericidal peptides.  Particular attention will be paid to benefit against biofilms.  This project builds on our McKown et al, J Biol Chem '14 article that described a novel cleavage potentiated bactericidal mechanism in the eye apparently responsible for most of the innate protection of the ocular surface.  The tear protein 'lacritin' identified and named by us (Sanghi et al, J Mol Biol '01; J Cell Biol '06a; J Cell Biol '06b; J Biol Chem '13a; J Biol Chem '13b; J Biol Chem '21) via its tear regulatory activity, is in part processed to a bactericidal fragment as represented experimentally by synthetic peptide 'N-104'.  N-104 partially overlaps with 'Lacripep', the focus of a recently completed phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of dry eye disease (Cornea, in press) by sponsor TearSolutions, Inc.  TearSolutions was cofounded by the PI.  With P. aeruginosa resistance at crisis levels developing novel solutions is a high priority.  

For 2022, the University was ranked the No. 4 best public university by U.S. News and World Report. In the 18 years since U.S. News began ranking public universities as a separate category, UVa has ranked in the top four and continues to rank in the Top 30 among the best of all national universities, public and private.
 

Minimum Requirements
Education: Doctoral degree by start of position.
 

Application Instructions: Please apply through Workday and complete an application online. Include the following documents:

• A CV/resume
• A cover letter indicating your research background and interests
• Contact information for 3 references (name, email, phone number.)

All documents can be loaded into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For additional questions about the role, please email Dr. Gordon Laurie , Professor of Cell Biology. For information about the application process, please contact Margaret Weeks , Academic Recruiter. Before a formal offer of employment is extended, the selected candidate will undergo a background check per university policy.

Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visit the UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines  webpage prior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirements?and?guidelines for employment at UVA.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.  We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences.  We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

The University of Virginia School of Medicine Department of Cell Biology seeks a newly minted postdoctoral research associate for exploration of a recently identified and novel cell death mechanism in bacteria in Dr. Gordon Laurie's lab . The discovery (article in prep) emerged from an unbiased resistance screen of the E. coli Keio collection with validation using P. aeruginosa PA 14 mutants, ligand binding studies, imaging flow cytometry, surface plasmon resonance, a synthetic peptide library and C. elegans infectivity.  Work will focus on several resistance mutants whose link to the cell death mechanism has not yet been studied and to possible synergy with other bactericidal peptides.  Particular attention will be paid to benefit against biofilms.  This project builds on our McKown et al, J Biol Chem '14 article that described a novel cleavage potentiated bactericidal mechanism in the eye apparently responsible for most of the innate protection of the ocular surface.  The tear protein 'lacritin' identified and named by us (Sanghi et al, J Mol Biol '01; J Cell Biol '06a; J Cell Biol '06b; J Biol Chem '13a; J Biol Chem '13b; J Biol Chem '21) via its tear regulatory activity, is in part processed to a bactericidal fragment as represented experimentally by synthetic peptide 'N-104'.  N-104 partially overlaps with 'Lacripep', the focus of a recently completed phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of dry eye disease (Cornea, in press) by sponsor TearSolutions, Inc.  TearSolutions was cofounded by the PI.  With P. aeruginosa resistance at crisis levels developing novel solutions is a high priority.  

For 2022, the University was ranked the No. 4 best public university by U.S. News and World Report. In the 18 years since U.S. News began ranking public universities as a separate category, UVa has ranked in the top four and continues to rank in the Top 30 among the best of all national universities, public and private.
 

Minimum Requirements
Education: Doctoral degree by start of position.
 

Application Instructions: Please apply through Workday and complete an application online. Include the following documents:

• A CV/resume
• A cover letter indicating your research background and interests
• Contact information for 3 references (name, email, phone number.)

All documents can be loaded into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For additional questions about the role, please email Dr. Gordon Laurie , Professor of Cell Biology. For information about the application process, please contact Margaret Weeks , Academic Recruiter. Before a formal offer of employment is extended, the selected candidate will undergo a background check per university policy.

Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visit the UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines  webpage prior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirements?and?guidelines for employment at UVA.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.  We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences.  We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.