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Job Summary

Seeking a motivated individual to lead a multidisciplinary research team in the Bjorkman Lab in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering on efforts to design and develop HIV-1 vaccine candidates. The researcher will be responsible for designing new immunogens, optimizing current immunogens, and characterizing immunogens and immune responses in vaccinated animals. The successful scientist will lead a team toward developing a potential HIV vaccine using a multi-faceted approach, including testing immunization strategies/regimens in various laboratory model animals, cloning and characterizing monoclonal antibodies to determine the epitope(s) targeted, analyzing polyclonal responses, and using structure-based design to improve immunogens.

Essential Job Duties

• Perform scientific research aimed at designing potential immunogens to HIV. Work directly with the PI on designs and modifications to experimental techniques and procedures.
• Characterize designed HIV immunogens structurally and functionally, including expression and purification, binding studies, and structural studies.
• Design original studies and perform research to determine the structural basis of the immune response to potential immunogens, including assessing binding of antibodies to potential immunogens and solving and analyzing antibody-antigen structures. 
• Analyze results from experiments and studies and write and publish scientific papers.
• Research work will be presented at seminars and conferences applicable to the HIV and/or structural biology field; the successful candidate will participate in lab discussions.
• Perform literature searches and keep up-to-date on related literature.
• Develop and implement new techniques from the literature and/or other research laboratories and apply them to projects in the Bjorkman Lab.
• Lead a team of researchers including graduate students, postdocs, technicians, and collaborators at other institutions, providing training and mentorship on the project and guidance in techniques and scientific direction.
• Interact with program officers and other grant officials from granting agencies funding the project.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in biological sciences or related field.
• At least 4 years of postdoctoral research experience (Postdoc, Staff Scientist position, or equivalent).
• Knowledge and understanding of HIV-1 structural biology and immunogen field.
• Experience in structural biology (X-ray crystallography and/or electron microscopy).
• Must be organized, and have excellent communication skills both written and verbal.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in single cell cloning.
• Experience with display technologies for protein engineering.
• Experience with animal models for use in vaccine testing.

Required Documents

• Resume