Postdoctoral Scholar - Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Vaccine & Antibody Development: pre-clinical and clinical immunology and biomarker discovery
Position Overview
Organization: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Title: Postdoctoral Scholar - Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Vaccine & Antibody Development: pre-clinical and clinical immunology and biomarker discovery
Position Details
Position Description
Postdoctoral Scholar position in Vaccine & Antibody Development: pre-clinical and clinical immunology and biomarker discovery
The Pravetoni laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar interested in development of vaccines, antibody-based strategies, and other novel interventions for substance use disorders (SUD), drug overdose, and other emerging chemical or biological threats. Dr. Pravetoni is the Director of the Center for Medication Development for Substance Use Disorders & Overdose. Current efforts are: 1) development and translation of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies (mAb), and small molecules to treat or prevent SUD, opioid use disorders (OUD) and overdose, 2) mechanisms and biomarkers underlying or predicting efficacy of immunotherapeutics and medications in pre-clinical models of SUD and OUD patients, 3) novel strategies to enhance vaccine or medication efficacy, including immunomodulators, small molecules, adjuvants, nanoparticles, mRNA, viral vectors, polymers and other delivery platforms, 4) development of vaccines, mAb, and clinical biomarkers against infectious diseases such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, and 5) antibody-based biosensors for field detection or diagnostics. Our long-term goal is the translation of novel therapies to ultimately bridge the bench-to-bedside gap. Our team has currently initiate a Phase I Clinical Trial of a vaccine for treatment opioid use disorders, and more clinical trials are pending.
This is a full-time position for an initial one-year appointment, with the option for renewal. The base salary range for this position will be $4570–$5567 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination.
Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.
Qualifications
Required qualifications: A Ph.D. or foreign equivalent in Immunology, Pharmacology or a related field. Expertise in flow cytometry of antigen-specific B or T cells (or equivalent immune population, e.g., NK cells) is required. Expertise in cell sorting paired with sequencing, and isolation of monoclonal antibodies is encouraged. The candidate should have demonstrated core expertise in the set up and operation of flow cytometers or cell sorters as well as the ability to analyze data with FlowJo or equivalent software. We are in search of a well-rounded team player that is interested in interfacing with a team of multidisciplinary collaborators (e.g. chemistry, neuroscience, pharmacology, immunology) to support our mission of medication development in the area of immunotherapeutics. The candidate should be interested in learning industry skills such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support collaborations with CMO, CRO, research laboratories, or industry partners, as well as CDAs, SOWs, and other contractual, legal and technical agreements to support FDA filings or other operations.
Being creative, flexible, self-motivated, and able to problem solve are key skills in our lab. Individuals with less than five (5) years of postdoc experience are eligible for this position.
Preferred Qualifications: At least 2 years of professional laboratory experience with training in Immunology or a related field. Experience in use of flow cytometry and FACS paired with sequencing strategies (e.g., B cell receptor, RNA seq or Igseq) and isolation of monoclonal antibodies from either animal or human samples. Other techniques of interest include ELISPOT, T cell memory recall assays and other approaches to analyze human B and T cell in vitro. Experience in vaccine development, immunology, and previous experience with clinical trials would be a bonus. Other preferred skills include experience with IRBs (Institutional Review Boards) and working with human samples.
Instructions
To apply for this position, please submit the following:
- CV
- Contact information of three references
- Cover letter outlining your previous research experience and future career goals.
- A statement detailing how your teaching, research, and/or clinical service has supported underrepresented populations across dimensions of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, backgrounds, and interests. Applicants who have not yet had the opportunity for such experience should note how their work will further the Department’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
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Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.