A postdoctoral associate position (50% effort) is available at Dr. Xing laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, from a new grant to work on molecular virology and develop mucosal immunity-based novel vaccines of emerging zoonotic virus including avian influenza virus and bunyaviruses. Candidates should have a Ph.D. or equivalent with strong expertise in virology and/or immunology, and be proficient in molecular and cell culture techniques. Experience working on innate or cell-mediated immunity, virus-host interaction or bacteriology is a plus. Individuals who are self-motivated with a solid virology background are encouraged to apply. Our laboratory has a number of exciting ongoing projects related to viral immunology and pathogenesis (J Virol 2022, PMID: 35695505; PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022, PMID: 35522620; Front Microbiol 2021, PMID: 34992585; PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019, PMID: 32176495; J Immunol 2019, PMID: 30598516; J Biol Chem 2017, PMID:28455446; J Biol Chem 2016, PMID:27226560; J. Virol 2014, PMID:24335286). This is a two-year project and renewal is possible pending to the candidate's performance and funding availability. This is a part-time Postdoc Position for a 24-month period.

Duties will include:
Design and perform experiments in molecular virology and immunology; set up and perform PCR or qRT-PCR for detecting viral RNA in animals; set up and perform ELISA and IFA for detecting viral specific antibodies in animal sera and viral antigens in tissues; grow Salmonella and Lactobacillus strains in media and for selection; conduct single-cell sequencing to analyze host responses in infected animals; perform avian influenza virus infection in cell culture system; clone and express viral proteins in bacterial and eukaryotic expression systems; test vaccine efficacy in animals; writing research papers and fellowship grants.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
The candidate needs to have Ph.D. or equivalent with strong expertise in virology and/or immunology, and be proficient in molecular and cell culture techniques.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience working with infectious agents. Experience with DNA subcloning, cell culture, and routine molecular and virological technologies. Experience working on bacteriology, innate or cell-mediated immunity and virus-host interaction is a plus. Individuals who are self-motivated with solid virology background are encouraged to apply.

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The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

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