When applying, please include the following: CV, contact information for 3 references (address, phone and e-mail), and a research statement describing your past research experience and future goals (1-2 pages). 

An exciting opportunity has opened for a postdoctoral fellow to join the Marc Hershenson laboratory at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  The main goal of our NIH-funded research is to understand how respiratory viral infections cause asthma exacerbations.  To accomplish this, we infect allergen-exposed mice with human rhinovirus.  We are also studying the association between rhinovirus infections and asthma development in immature mice.  In addition to rhinovirus, we study other important respiratory viruses including enterovirus D68, which has been associated with polio-like symptoms in children, and coronavirus NL63, a relative of SARS-CoV2.  Besides genetically-defined mouse models, we study virus-host interactions at the cellular level using primary human cells, and analyze respiratory tract samples from children with respiratory viral infections.  Thus, the postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive program of study which should prove useful in a future research career, either in academics or the pharmaceutical industry.   Highly-motivated candidates with a PhD degree in the biological sciences and expertise in virology, immunology and molecular biology, who are interested in a career in respiratory translational research, will be most competitive for this position.

• Independently implement technical procedures for assignments (50%), including:
  • Use reverse genetics to generate cDNAs expressing infectious clones of various enteroviruses as well as mutant enteroviruses 
  • Design and supervise experiments infecting naive and house dust mite-treated mice with various enteroviruses.  
  • Perform assessment of inflammasome activation using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and immunoblotting, supervise/train lab members in these experiments
  • Perform assessment of innate lymphoid cells by flow cytometry, cell sorting, cell culture, qPCR, ELISA, supervise/train lab members in these experiments
  • Use other research methods as needed including cell culture, qPCR, immunoprecipitation.
• Participate in formulating research methods and suggest options for improving quality
• Assist other team members in their projects
• Independently participate in academic authorship of manuscripts and grants related to lab work (25%)
• Make recommendations on best technical approaches to investigate a scientific problem
• Independently implement technical procedures for assignments.
• Participate in laboratory meetings
• Responsible for accurate record keeping
• Interact with collaborators as necessary to provide interpretation of study results
• Communicate and make recommendations to other scientists in the team
• Train personnel in existing laboratory techniques and procedures, explain and demonstrate technology and equipment capabilities, operation limitation and outcomes (25%)

• PhD degree in a recognized field of science directly related to the position.
• Five years of directly related laboratory experience
• Exceptional work ethic in a highly competitive environment.
• Ability to communicate clearly the results of his/her experiments to other team members.
• Strong knowledge of molecular and cell biology, especially in the field of epigenetics and oncology
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and GraphPad Prism
• Familiarity with basic laboratory instrumentation and maintenance of laboratory equipment 
• Proficient in record keeping
• A solid command of tissue culture and in conducting studies in an enhanced BSL-2 environment is necessary
• Knowledge of bioinformatics tools for data analysis and interpretation
• Hands on skills and experience with all standard molecular and cell biology techniques (e.g. qPCR, cloning, Western blot, microscopy, genetic modification)

• Minimum five years of directly related laboratory experience. Familiarity with University research administration policies and procedures
• Virology, genetics, flow cytometry experience

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.