Postdoctoral Fellow

National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Immunological Postdoctoral Position
Complement and Inflammation Research Section (CIRS) at the Immunology Center

Dr. Claudia Kemper’s laboratory (Complement and Inflammation Research Section – CIRS), which is located in the Immunology Center of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher with strong immunological expertise, specifically related to in vivo mouse models of infection and/or autoimmunity.

Our laboratory focuses on the new and non-canonical roles of intracellularly functioning innate immunity (complement) in the regulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. For example, we have previously shown that intracellular complement is critical to the normal induction and contraction of Th1 responses via regulation of key nutrient influx and metabolic pathways in CD4⁺ T cells and that deviations in this ‘pathways’ underlie recurrent infections and autoimmune disease (Liszewski et al., Immunity, 2013; Kolev et al., Immunity, 2015; Arbore et al., Science, 2016). We have extended our discovery in T cells and have also demonstrated that intracellular complement is operative across other immune (monocytes/macrophages, B cells, etc.) and non-immune cells (Kolev et al. Immunity 2020, Niyonzima et al, Sci Immunol, 2021; West et al, Immunity, 2023) where it is critical for the control of basic cell physiological processes, such as gene transcription and protein translation, control of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and amino acid metabolism.

To understand the role of intracellular complement in health and disease, we employ a combinatorial approach including application of pertinent mouse models (using unique floxed mouse strains with cell-specific deficiencies in C3 or C5 – generated on our lab), and assessment of novel discovered intracellular complement-mediated cell physiological pathways in patients with autoimmune disease, infections, or cancer via ‘omic’ techniques including CyTOF technology, ChIP-Seq, RNA-Seq, scRNA-seq, CITE-Seq and ATAC-Seq.

Required Qualifications:

• D. in a relevant field (immunology, virology, microbiology, or another appropriate discipline) with less than two years of postdoctoral experience.
• The ability to carry out independent research, and a strong interest in interdisciplinary approaches and collaborative research.
• Published articles in peer-reviewed journals.
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Experience working with animal models.

Experience assessing immune cell responses to mouse models of infection (such as influenza or LCMV), or autoimmunity (such as EAE or arthritis), or solid tumors would be considered advantageous.  Knowledge in analyzing large ‘omic’ data (such as RNA-seq and/or scRNA-seq) would also be considered beneficial.

NIH offers excellent salary and health care packages to its trainees and has consistently been ranked among the best places to work for postdoctoral fellows. The candidate will join a diverse and team-work oriented laboratory supported with an excellent intramural NIH fellowship in a stimulating and interactive research environment at NIH. CIRS is embedded in a broad national and international collaborative network, providing ample opportunities for extensive collaborations and an environment with a roadmap into independence.

Appointees may be US citizens, resident aliens, or non-resident aliens with or eligible to obtain a valid employment authorized visa.  Salary is commensurate with research experience and accomplishments.

Applications from women, minorities and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged. Applicants should send a brief statement of their research interests, Curriculum Vitae, and complete bibliography, and arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to provided contact information.

For details, contact Claudia Kemper at claudia.kemper@nih.gov.

Posting ID: 413