英国医学研究理事会招收免疫学博士后

A Postdoctoral Scientist (Career Development Fellow) position is open in Dr. Andreas Wack’s group in the MRC - National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) in London, UK.

We are interested in infection by influenza virus and try to understand how early, innate responses contribute to protection or pathogenesis. One of our aims is to determine the role of interferons (IFNs, Crotta et al., PLoS Pathog. 2013: e1003773), and we have identified a range of in vivo models where type 1 IFNs appear to promote inflammation and disease rather than virus elimination (Davidson et al., Nature Comm. 2014, in press). You will study in detail one such model that involves kinase-deficient mice, with the aim of understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the disease phenotype.

We are also interested in the role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in respiratory infections and have generated mice deficient in a transcription factor that likely affects survival and cytokine profile of ILC subsets (Crotta et al., J. Immunol. 2014, doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302765; Male et al., J. Exp. Med. 2014, doi: 10.1084/jem.20132398). Analysis of this in vivo model is also available within this position and will further our understanding of transcription factor requirements for ILC function in infectious disease.

You will have (or will be close to obtaining) a PhD in immunology or a closely related discipline and you will use globally and conditionally gene-targeted infection models to study the roles of the relevant kinase and of IFNs in influenza infection. In addition, the post doc will assess the role of transcription factor-deficient ILCs in a variety of infections. You will analyze innate immune cell function ex vivo and in vitro by flow cytometry and functional assays and by performing biochemical and transcriptional analyses on the relevant cell types. We have state of the art core facilities for flow cytometry and high throughput sequencing. Those with experience in immunological studies in vivo and a strong interest in innate immune responses to influenza and other respiratory infections are encouraged to apply.

The position is core funded (MRC) for 3 years.

Informal enquiries can be addressed to Dr. Andreas Wack awack@nimr.mrc.ac.uk. Interested candidates should apply with their cover letter, curriculum vitae and the names and contact information of at least two referees.

MRC final salary Pension Scheme is available.

Lab web page: http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/research/andreas-wack/

Closing date: 20.05.2014

Applications are handled by the UK Shared Business Services; candidates with a solid track record of academic achievements are encouraged to apply. Please visit our job board at http://www.topcareer.jobs/Vacancy/irc140533_4357.aspx and upload your CV along with a letter of motivation, (when saving your documents quote reference IRC140533 in the filename).

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