Post-Doc Research Associate

The UNC School of Medicine has a rich tradition of excellence and care. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of North Carolinians, and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education, and research. We strive to promote faculty, staff, and learner development in a diverse, respectful environment where our colleagues demonstrate professionalism, enhance learning, and create personal and professional sustainability. We optimize our partnership with the UNC Health System through close collaboration and commitment to service.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to be the nation's leading public school of medicine. We are ranked 2nd in primary care education among all US schools of medicine and 5th among public peers in NIH research funding. Our Allied Health Department is home to five top-ranked divisions, and we are home to 18 top-ranked clinical and basic science departments in NIH research funding.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education, and research.
Patient Care: We will promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.
Education: We will prepare tomorrow's health care professionals and biomedical researchers by facilitating learning within innovative curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education. We will cultivate outstanding teaching and research faculty, and we will recruit outstanding students and trainees from highly diverse backgrounds to create a socially responsible, highly skilled workforce.
Research: We will develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers, and resources. We will provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our University to support outstanding research. We will foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic, and population research.

The purpose of this Postdoctoral Fellow Research Associate position is to assist the primary investigator (PI), Dr. Onyinye Iweala with the following:
(1) To perform basic and translational scientific research centered on understanding (a) the role of glycolipids and invariant natural killer T cells in development and maintenance of alpha-gal mammalian meat allergy (2) To train and supervise undergraduate, graduate student, and other early stage research assistants and technicians.
One of the primary interests of the Iweala Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (https://iwealalab.web.unc.edu/) is understanding the basic mechanisms of pathogenesis behind alpha-gal syndrome, an allergic condition characterized by delayed allergic reactions after the ingestion of mammalian meat. The allergy is driven by the IgE-mediated hypersensitivity responses to the sugar galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). The development of alpha-gal specific serum IgE is associated with exposure to certain tick species, including the lone star tick, in the United States. The Iweala Lab is looking for a postdoctoral fellow with a strong background in immunology, especially cellular and/or molecular immunology, to help develop and optimize a mouse model of alpha-gal syndrome and to study the role of different T cell subsets, including invariant natural killer T cells, in allergic immune responses to alpha-gal glycolipids and alpha-gal glycoproteins. The successful applicant would work with live tick species to develop an infestation mouse model and then use ex-vivo cell culture and flow cytometry techniques and molecular techniques like RT- PCR, and bulk and single cell RNAseq, to characterize the model and assess the role of different lymphocyte subset in the development of allergic sensitization and allergic symptoms in this model.

PhD in Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology, Genetics and/or related field of study.

Must have completed PhD in Biological Sciences or related field

1. Previous wet lab experience of more than 2 years
2. Experience with mammalian cell culture and proficiency in molecular and cellular biology techniques
3. Experience with mouse / animal models of human disease
4. Experience with flow cytometry
5. Familiarity with / previous exposure to molecular biology techniques, especially PCR
6. Familiarity with / previous exposure to cell culture
7. Strong communication skills
8. Comfort with working independently as well as working collaboratively
9. Honesty and integrity
10. Strong work ethic
11. Persistence, perseverance
12. Experience with chemistry calculations
13. Willingness to learn new techniques on the job
14. Self-direction, organization, detail-orientation, a willingness to be proactive about seeking help when needed

For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Equal Employment Opportunity office at (919) 966-3576 or send an email to equalopportunity@unc.edu.

Please note: The Equal Employment Opportunity office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.