Postdoctoral position on Gene and Cell Therapy Development

Postdoctoral position on Gene and Cell Therapy Development for treatment of Primary Immune Deficiencies in Genetic Immunotherapy Section at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Position Description

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) conducts and supports a global program of research to better understand and develop novel approaches to gene and cell therapy for primary immunodeficiency diseases. The Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM) within the NIAID Division of Intramural Research (DIR) is seeking candidates for a postdoctoral fellow position within the Gene Therapy Development Unit, Genetic Immunotherapy Section.  This position involves translational research projects studying novel approaches to functionally correct autologous hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells for gene therapy, and primary blood cells for cellular therapy pertinent to the specific disease.  The project includes designing, optimizing, and establishing the feasibility and safety of the approaches. Translation of promising strategies to treatment of patients will also entail the preparation of regulatory documentation for Investigational New Drug applications for clinical protocols.

The details of the project will be directly discussed with the applicants. He/she will work under the direction of Dr. Suk See De Ravin, M.D., Ph.D., in collaboration with other team members in the Genetic Immunotherapy Section.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree or equivalent
• Highly motivated
• Expertise in molecular biology and/or immunology
• Experience in cell culture, flow cytometry, murine models-necropsy, and tissue collection/processing
• Excellent organizational and writing skills
• Applicants must be able to communicate (oral and written skills) in English

Areas of research

The major areas of research in the Genetic Immunotherapy Section (Chief, Harry L. Malech) include the following: clinical studies and the development of novel ex vivo gene therapy approaches (lentivirus, gene editing) using autologous CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) to model human immune deficiencies, hematopoietic stem cell transplants for primary immunodeficiencies, understanding the pathogenesis of acute and chronic graft versus host disease, and long-term safety studies following gene therapy.

Position location

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

General information

Expected date of employment: position available immediately.

Competitive salaries are determined by educational degree(s) and number of years of relevant postdoctoral experience.

To apply: Please submit your CV, bibliography, statement of research interests, and the names of three references to sderavin@niaid.nih.gov.

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HHS, NIH, and NIAID are equal opportunity employers.