Postdoctoral Associate - Martins Lab

Join to apply for the Postdoctoral Associate - Martins Lab role at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology.

The Martins lab is focused on developing a “one-shot” functional cure for HIV/AIDS by leveraging gene therapy to engineer long-lived host cells to produce HIV-1 IgG therapeutics in vivo. Preclinical studies in nonhuman primates have shown that a single dose of adeno‑associated virus (AAV) vectors at birth can stably express an HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) for years without redosing. The strategy aims to block acquisition of SHIV in mucosal challenge models and to prevent virus rebound following ART interruption.

A major focus is to understand and suppress anti‑drug antibody responses that arise with AAV‑bNAb vectors.

• Project management (meetings, bookkeeping, purchasing reagents and supplies, etc.)
• Grant and manuscript writing
• Cloning, cell culture, ELISAs, protein expression and purification, data analysis and interpretation

• Ph.D. in immunology, virology, or a related discipline.
• Evidence of productivity from publications in high‑quality journals from Ph.D. or postdoctoral work.
• Significant expertise in the design and production of gene therapy vectors.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English, with good organizational and analytical abilities.
• Strong managerial and organizational skills.

• Immunological techniques: flow cytometry, ELISA, immunofluorescence, RNA/DNA scope.
• Molecular biology assays: qPCR, advanced cloning.
• Preclinical models of HIV/AIDS.
• Next‑generation sequencing and bioinformatics.

Applicants must upload a cover letter, resume, and provide names and email addresses of three to five references. This position is open until filled; application review will begin November 14, 2025.

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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