Postdoctoral Researcher for Human Virome Project

The Ismagilov Lab at the California Institute of Technology is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to work on our NIH-funded Human Virome Project (see project description at https://reporter.nih.gov/search/3nsnt--idkOZINUeCRpyQA/project-details/10986859). The NIH Human Virome Program (HVP) is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at advancing our understanding of the human virome—the diverse array of viruses that inhabit the human body—and their interactions with hosts, other microbes, and the immune system (see NIH program at https://commonfund.nih.gov/humanvirome). The program focuses on overcoming technological challenges such as detecting viruses in low-biomass samples, reducing host nucleic acid contamination, and developing scalable methods for virome quantification and annotation. Through innovative tools and interdisciplinary collaborations, the HVP seeks to elucidate the role of the virome in human health and disease. 

This postdoctoral position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development, validation, and deployment of cutting-edge experimental methods for virome enrichment, detection, identification, and quantification from complex biological samples.  The project will target both prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses and will leverage lab’s additional expertise in low-biomass sequencing and computational analysis.  The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in this effort and will be responsible for: 1) developing technologies for enrichment and sequencing of viral and bacterial targets; 2) deploying these technologies in collaborations with computational and clinical team members to make discoveries and to test scientific hypotheses. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop and validate novel viral enrichment protocols exceeding to current standards (ultra-centrifugation, filtration, etc.). 
• Quantify viral and bacterial components in enriched fractions and establish limits of detection (LoD) and lower limits of quantification (LLoQ). Prepare DNA and RNA libraries for short-read (Illumina NovaSeq6000) and long-read (Nanopore MinION) sequencing.   
• Investigate diverse human clinical specimens (e.g., saliva, vaginal swabs, intestinal biopsies). 
• Validate discovered host-virus interactions and study viral dynamics using experimental and computational approaches. 
• Collaborate with computational and clinical researchers to make discoveries and to test scientific hypotheses. 

Key Qualifications 

• A Ph.D. in molecular biology, microbiology, virology, biochemistry, or a related field. 
• Extensive experience with wet-lab techniques, including nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR/dPCR, library preparation for sequencing, viral propagation 
• Strong problem-solving skills; strong ability to quantitatively design and interpret experiments; strong drive to develop methods of quality suitable for use by the entire Virome community.    
• Expertise in virology. Knowledge of phage biology, microbial ecology, or viral-host dynamics. 
• Strong interest in method development and understanding the role of viruses in human health and disease.  

Preferred Skills 

• Experience with metagenomic sequencing for viral studies (identification, host-association, life stage, etc.)  Knowledge of experimental approaches for quantifying viral dynamics in longitudinal studies. 
• Experience with complex sample types, such as human tissue or low-biomass samples. 
• Experience with viral enrichment strategies. 
• Familiarity with microbial analysis using standard bioinformatics pipelines. 

What We Offer 

• A collaborative and innovative research environment at the forefront of virome studies. 
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratory and technologies. 
• Established clinical collaborations and internal IRB protocols producing unique human samples.  
• Opportunities for professional development through interactions with the HVP consortium and other leading researchers. 

Application Process 
To apply, please submit: 

• A cover letter describing your research experience and interest in this role. 
• A detailed CV. 

Hiring Range: $70,264 per year. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, experience, qualifications, skills, education, specialty, training, and internal equity. As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off, parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and more. 

Candidates should send their CV and a brief statement of their qualifications and research aspirations to rustem.admin@caltech.edu.