Postdoctoral Positions (2) in Gut Innate Immunity and Cancer Associated Thrombosis – Harvard

Two Postdoctoral Fellowship Positions Available

Position 1:  Postdoctoral Fellowship in Gut Innate Immunity and Epithelial Repair

Postdoctoral position available in the laboratory of Dr. Elliot Chaikof for a candidate with an interest in studying the role of the gut innate immune system in epithelial repair and regeneration with a particular focus on the development of therapeutic agents for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The candidate is expected to closely interact with an interdisciplinary team of medicinal chemists and GI pathologists to support this drug discovery program. The project will focus on the evaluation of modulators of mucosal immunity and intestinal epithelial repair processes using animal models of colitis and gut organoid assay systems (see Science Advances 2020; 6:eaay8230). PhD in immunology, molecular biology or related discipline required. 

Submit CV to echaikof@bidmc.harvard.edu.

Responsibilities

• Integrate knowledge from immunology, molecular biology, cell and developmental biology, and structural biology to determine the contributions of gut barrier dysfunction to inflammatory bowel disease.
• Initiate and direct experiments that utilize murine models of colitis and other models of gut barrier dysfunction
• Apply a variety of in vitro tools, including intestinal organoid assays and conduct molecular and cellular bioassays, flow cytometry, as well as immunohistochemical studies to characterize the mechanism of action of lead compounds that act as innate immune modulators.

Requirements

• Requires a PhD in immunology, molecular biology, or related discipline.
• Collaborate with members of a multidisciplinary team to efficiently pursue novel strategies that support the discovery of immune modulators for tissue repair and regeneration. 
• Experience in cell and molecular biology, flow cytometry, other complex bioassays, as well as in vivo studies using mouse models. 
• Must be an energetic, out-of-box thinker with positive attitude. Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, as is the desire and ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts. Demonstrated success as exemplified by peer-reviewed publications, scientific creativity, and independent thought.   

Position 2: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer-Associated Venous Thrombosis

Postdoctoral position available in the laboratory of Dr. Elliot Chaikof for a candidate with an interest in defining the prothrombotic pathways and/or biomarkers of increased thrombotic risk among patients with cancer, particularly those with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The candidate is expected to closely interact with an interdisciplinary team of hematologists, oncologists, and medicinal chemists in support of a related drug discovery program. The project will focus on defining the underlying mechanisms that promote a prothrombotic phenotype using animal models of patient derived tumor organoids and organoid assay systems.  This program is a component project within the NIH CLOT (Consortium Linking Oncology with Thrombosis) Consortium. PhD in immunology, molecular biology, tumor biology, or related discipline required. 

Submit CV to echaikof@bidmc.harvard.edu.                       

Responsibilities

• Integrate knowledge from tumor biology, immunology, and molecular genetics to determine the molecular mechanisms that promote cancer-associated thrombosis.
• Initiate and direct experiments that utilize murine models of patient derived tumor organoids.
• Apply a variety of in vitro tools, including organoid assay systems and conduct molecular and cellular bioassays, flow cytometry, as well as immunohistochemical studies to characterize the relationship between phenotype, tumor subtype, host immune response, and gene expression signature.

Requirements

• Requires a PhD in immunology, molecular biology, tumor biology or related discipline.
• The candidate is expected to closely interact with a multidisciplinary team to define underlying molecular mechanisms that promote cancer associated thrombosis and related biomarkers of risk.
• Experience in cell and molecular biology, flow cytometry, other complex bioassays, as well as in vivo studies using mouse models.   
• Must be an energetic, out-of-box thinker with positive attitude. Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, as is the desire and ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Expert knowledge of scientific principles and concepts. Demonstrated success as exemplified by peer-reviewed publications, scientific creativity, and independent thought.   

Interested candidates should contact:

Elliot L. Chaikof, MD, PhD 

Johnson and Johnson Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, echaikof@bidmc.harvard.edu

Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (hst.mit.edu/users/echaikofbidmcharvardedu)

Harvard Stem Cell Institute (hsci.harvard.edu/people/elliot-chaikof-md-phd)

Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering (wyss.harvard.edu/team/associate-faculty/elliot-chaikof)

Harvard-MIT MD-PhD Program Leadership (hms.harvard.edu/md_phd/administration/index.html)

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

The Chaikof lab is located in the Center for Life Sciences Building in the Longwood medical area, directly adjacent to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital. CLS 11090, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115.