Description

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be assigned to the TA virology-biophysics lab under a Principal Investigator (PI). The PI has a strong research record in single-molecule imaging of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 surface spikes (Lu et al., 2019, Nature, 568: 415-419; Lu et al., 2020, Cell Host & Microbe, 28: 880-891. e8; mBio, 2022 Mbio 13 (1), e03227-21, https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sXdQzMgAAAAJ&hl=en). The research spectrum of the lab falls into the dynamics-structure-function paradigm of crucial proteins on enveloped viruses, focusing on how viruses modulate their surface spike proteins to evade antibody recognition while mediating the entry of viruses into susceptible cells for infection. The lab is working on HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 and has an interest in branching out to other viruses as well.

The position is expected to work independently under the general direction of the PI in research activities. These activities include designing and conducting biomedical experiments, analyzing data, representing results in international conferences, writing manuscripts, and publishing, and participating in biosafety and biomedical research-related training.

Major Responsibilities / Duties / Critical Tasks:

• Lead specific projects, perform experiments, analyze data, interpret results.
• Present results at scientific conferences, prepare manuscripts, and publish findings.
• Communicate well with other lab members and collaborators.
• Maintaining lab supplies and equipment.
• Other duties as assigned by PI.

Accompanying Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

The position will require experience in one or more of the following:

• Single-molecule FRET or single-molecule biophysics (strongly encouraged to apply)
• Biophysics/Biochemistry/Structural biology skills: protein expression, protein purification, SPR, programing experiences (desirable, but not required), etc. (strongly encouraged to apply)
• Hands-on experience in biomedical imaging, such as confocal, TIRF, time-resolved fluorescence, TCSPC, etc.
• Molecular biology skills: molecular cloning, western blots, ELISA, qPCR, etc.
• Lentiviruses, coronaviruses, or other infectious diseases.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in one of the life sciences or optics/imaging-related fields.