The Lanz Lab is seeking two highly creative, collaborative, and motivated postdoctoral fellows in the fields of immunology and structural biology / protein engineering (this posting is for the immunology position, for the structural biology position, please find the other posting on this page).
The Lanz lab investigates fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms that shape the adaptive immune system and are relevant in neuroimmunological diseases and rheumatic diseases with neurological manifestations, which include multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica (NMO), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and vasculitides. We are particularly interested in B cell biology and seek to identify new autoantigens, characterize antigen-antibody interactions, and understand how self-reactive B cells escape tolerance mechanisms. Several projects investigate how Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) contributes to autoimmunity. In all our projects we pursue multidisciplinary approaches in collaboration with physicians and scientists with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. We utilize next-generation sequencing approaches, proteomics approaches, structural biology techniques, animal models, and bioengineering tools to investigate interesting and important research questions and design novel therapeutics for patients with autoimmune diseases.
The successful postdoc will have a background in immunology or a related field. She or he will be part of a highly collaborative environment and lead one or several projects. The postdoc will have prior expertise in immunological methods and immunology-related research questions. She or he will be able to design, carry out, and analyze experiments independently, and supervise graduate students, research assistants, and new trainees. She or he will have experience with data processing, statistical computation, and data interpretation, and will be responsible for literature review and manuscript preparation. The postdoc will have access to a wide array of next-generation technologies in the Stanford research environment and is encouraged to implement several of these in her or his project. To this end, she or he will be supported by the other team members and by Stanford internal and external collaborators. The postdoc will receive individualized mentorship, tailored to her or his background, expertise and career goals. This will include regular meetings with Dr. Lanz and encouragement and support for the preparation of career development awards (e.g. F32 or K99).
The lab is part of the Institute for Immunity, Transplantation, and Infection at Stanford, and located at the Center for Clinical Science Research (CCSR) in the heart of the Stanford biomedical research campus.