Postdoctoral Researcher

About the Unit:

The Pritzker School for Molecular Engineering (PME), established in 2011 by the University of Chicago in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, is a transformational academic unit exploring the intersection of science and engineering. In 2019, in recognition of our success, impact, and expansion, and the support of the Pritzker Foundation, the institute was elevated to the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering—the first school in the nation dedicated to this emerging field. PME will lead engineering research and education in new directions, solve technological problems of major significance, and continually inspire creative applications of molecular-level science.

The Immunoengineering Postdoctoral Training (IMEPOST) Program offers postdoctoral researchers interdisciplinary training in immunology, bioengineering, science communications, and grant writing, helping them reach their goals of becoming tomorrow's investigators. Through generous support from the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID; award # T32-AI153020), the CIIC and the Biological Sciences Division's Committee on Immunology (CoI) are proud to champion the most promising postdoctoral scholars as they further their careers in this growing new field. Particularly suitable for early-stage postdocs in years 1-2 of their tenure on campus, this two-year program supports immunologists and bioengineers who wish to pursue coursework in each others' fields. In addition, monthly workshops in scientific communications and proposal writing, which culminate in milestone deliverables, provide complementary professional development for the activities that today's researchers engage in.

Job Summary

The Chicago Immunoengineering Innovation Center at the University of Chicago is looking for postdoctoral researchers in the areas of cancer immunotherapy, vaccines, immunity, and computational immunology, broadly defined. The research will be highly interdisciplinary so motivated candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The focus will be on projects related to controlled activation of innate immunity in the context of vaccines and cancer immunotherapy.

Applicants from many diverse backgrounds, including cell biology, molecular biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, biophysics, or biomedical engineering, are encouraged to apply as this project will bridge traditional disciplinary boundaries. Of particular interest are technical skills and experience working with immune cells and/or animal models, as well as a working knowledge of immunology. These skills are beneficial but not required.

With support from the NIAID, the candidates will have the opportunity to investigate a diverse array of important and unsolved challenges in the field of immunology including: (i) attenuating inflammation in vaccines, (ii) understanding the mechanism of action for chemically-linked agonists, and (iii) quantifying the activation threshold of immune receptors.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Performs experiments and collects and analyzes data.
2. Participates in cutting edge research project.
3. Participates in the preparation and writing of grant applications and reports, and co-authors/authors scientific research manuscripts. Provides peer review of grant applications and scientific manuscripts.
4. Collaborates on development of new research projects with academic and community-based organizations.
5. Other responsibilities include presentation of research results at weekly lab meetings and at national or international scientific meetings; including preparation and submission of papers that result in peer-reviewed journals. 
6. Support the training of research staff, graduate or undergraduate students within the lab.

Requirements:

The candidate must have a PhD or expected PhD in bioengineering, immunology, or related field. To be eligible for support, trainees must be a US citizen or US Permanent Resident at the start of the appointment.

Application Process

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by sending the following documents to Daphne Gavins  ddgavins@uchicago.edu:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Brief statement on research and training goals, identifying labs of interest. UChicago’s Immunoengineering and Immunology faculty can be found here:
  • https://pme.uchicago.edu/themes/immunoengineering
  • https://immunology.uchicago.edu/program/faculty
• Names and contact information of two references (including PhD advisor).

The University of Chicago is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Additional information on benefits and being a postdoc at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering can be found at: https://pme.uchicago.edu/academics/postdoctoral-researchers.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University's Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination: https://www.uchicago.edu/non-discrimination.