Research Scientist - Microbiology and Immunology

Advertising Summary

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit

School Of Medicine MBU

Department

Microbiology and Immunology

Department Summary

Located on the MCV Campus in downtown Richmond, the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is home to a vibrant community of researchers, educators and learners. With a strong history of research funding, our department strives to advance scientific knowledge in the biomedical sciences and inform medical advancements that improve patient outcomes. Our innovative studies span a broad spectrum of areas within the fields of microbiology and immunology:

Allergy and autoimmunity

Host-pathogen interactions and molecular pathogenesis

Human microbiome science and microbial genomics

Reproductive immunology

T-cell therapy and vaccine development

Tumor biology, cell signaling and epigenetics

As educators, we are proud to provide a collaborative, collegial learning environment for our students. Faculty and postdoctoral fellows serve as dedicated mentors, providing an individualized educational experience and shaping the next generation of successful scientists.

Duties & Responsibilities

A research scientist position (contingent on extramural funding) is available in the laboratory of Dr. Jason

A. Carlyon in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Virginia Commonwealth University. The successful candidate will participate in NIH-funded projects studying the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens, Orientia tsutsugamushi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Projects include developing genetic tools for O. tsutsugamushi; examining how O. tsutsugamushi modulates multiple host cell processes including immunity, membrane trafficking, cell cycle, apopotosis, lipid signaling, epigenetic gene regulation, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system;

examining how

A. phagocytophilum-host cell interactions drive bacterial binding, invasion, fitness, intracellular survival, immunity evasion, parasitism, and egress. Highly motivated, hard-working, and technically skilled applicants with relevant experience are welcomed to apply.

Core Responsibilities

• Maintenance of Orientia tsutsugamushi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infected cultures
  • Maintain uninfected, O. tsutsugamushi infected, and
    
    A. phagocytophilum infected cell lines under sterile conditions on a bi-weekly basis
• Assessment of O. tsutsugamushi molecular pathogenesis
  • Involves purifying O. tsutsugamushi bacteria from infected cells, contributing to the development of genetic tools for O. tsutsugamushi, performing infection assays under various conditions, assessing infectivity in naïve cells. Diligently keep laboratory notebook and electronic record on server of all experiments
• Assessment of
  
  A. phagocytophilum interactions with eukaryotic host cells and mammalian hosts
  • Will include all or some of the following: assess
    
    A. phagocytophilum adhesin-receptor interactions and how this promote host cell signaling, effector delivery, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and bacterial entry; analyze exosome protein, nucleotide, and lipid profiles; assess
    
    A. phagocytophilum modulation of exosome content and effector function; assess
    
    A. phagocytophilum pathogenesis using the mouse model. Diligently keep laboratory notebook and electronic record on server of all experiments
• Lab management
  • Mentor and train junior scientists. Contribute to daily lab management and maintenance
• Writing manuscripts, grants, abstracts
  • Write and edit drafts of manuscripts for…