Postdoctoral Fellow

Antibody Biology Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the largest institutes in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. A postdoctoral fellowship position is available in Rockville, Maryland, in the Antibody Biology Unit of the Laboratory of Immunogenetics within NIAID’s Division of Intramural Research.

The Antibody Biology Unit (ABU) aims to use cutting-edge techniques to study the antibody response to major pathogens to further our knowledge of basic B-cell biology and to make translational advances that impact global health.

ABU seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to lead a project on the development of next-generation broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-2. This project builds upon recent work identifying neutralizing mAbs targeting the fusion peptide (Dacon et al. Science. 2022 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35857439/) and stem helix (Dacon et al. Cell Host Microbe. 2023 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36347257/).

The main goal of this project is to develop new techniques to improve broadly neutralizing mAbs to increase their potency against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and other coronaviruses to produce a panel of next-generation mAbs that are both potent and broad in their antiviral activity. Through collaboration with industry, ABU has a pathway to test these mAbs in animal models, evaluate their suitability as clinical products, and ultimately test them in clinical trials.

The successful candidate will have access to a strong network of collaborators and high-throughput devices for screening and characterizing mAbs, including the Berkeley Lights Beacon (optofluidics), Intellicyt iQue Screener (high-throughput flow cytometer), and Carterra LSA (high-throughput SPR). This position is ideal for candidates interested in a project with basic and translational features that aim to have a real-world impact on preventing and treating coronavirus-caused disease.

Trainees will receive a stipend commensurate with their experience, and health insurance benefits are available.

Qualifications

Required

• Ph.D. in a related field (immunology, molecular biology, or virology)
• Research experience: molecular biology, next-generation sequencing, flow cytometry
• First-author publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals
• Excellent organizational, written, and communication skills

To Apply

Interested candidates should send the following to Joshua Tan, Ph.D., Chief, Antibody Biology Unit, NIAID, NIH at joshuahoongyu.tan@nih.gov:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Three letters of reference

Visit NAID Careers - https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/careers for more information about working in NIAID’s dynamic atmosphere.

HHS, NIH, and NIAID are equal opportunity employers dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.