Research Scientist - Microbiology and Immunology

A research scientist position (contingent on extramural funding) is available in the laboratory of Dr. Jason A. Carlyon in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Virginia Commonwealth University.  The successful candidate will participate in NIH-funded projects studying the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens, Orientia tsutsugamushi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Projects include developing genetic tools for O. tsutsugamushi; examining how O. tsutsugamushi modulates multiple host cell processes including immunity, membrane trafficking, cell cycle, apopotosis, lipid signaling, epigenetic gene regulation, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system; examining how A. phagocytophilum-host cell interactions drive bacterial binding, invasion, fitness, intracellular survival, immunity evasion, parasitism, and egress.  Highly motivated, hard-working, and technically skilled applicants with relevant experience are welcomed to apply.

Core Responsibilities: 

• →Maintenance of Orientia tsutsugamushi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infected cultures
  • →Maintain uninfected, O. tsutsugamushi infected, and A. phagocytophilum infected cell lines under sterile conditions on a bi-weekly basis
• →Assessment of O. tsutsugamushi molecular pathogenesis
  • →Involves purifying O. tsutsugamushi bacteria from infected cells, contributing to the development of genetic tools for O. tsutsugamushi, performing infection assays under various conditions, assessing infectivity in naïve cells. Diligently keep laboratory notebook and electronic record on server of all experiments
• → Assessment of A. phagocytophilum interactions with eukaryotic host cells and mammalian hosts
  • →Will include all or some of the following: assess A. phagocytophilum adhesin-receptor interactions and how this promote host cell signaling, effector delivery, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and bacterial entry; analyze exosome protein, nucleotide, and lipid profiles; assess A. phagocytophilum modulation of exosome content and effector function; assess A. phagocytophilum pathogenesis using the mouse model. Diligently keep laboratory notebook and electronic record on server of all experiments
• →Lab management
  • →Mentor and train junior scientists. Contribute to daily lab management and maintenance
• →Writing manuscripts, grants, abstracts
  • →Write and edit drafts of manuscripts for publication. Write/contribute data for extramural grant proposals. Writing for both grants and abstracts is expected to be at or near principal investigator quality and maturity. Write abstracts of research and present at scientific conferences
• →Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Minimum Qualifications

(1) PhD or MD/PhD, (2) At least four years of postdoctoral experience and a proven publication record, (3) Experience in working with obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens, (3) Strong background in cell biology, microscopy, biochemistry, molecular biology, and bacterial genetics. (4) Candidates are expected to be very motivated for career development, committed to driving federally funded high impact and high-quality research, and must aggressively pursue extramural funding in the form of NIH R-awards or comparable. (5) Candidates must be able to work independently, be willing to mentor and train junior scientists, and share duties with other staff members in running lab logistics on a daily basis. (6) Candidates are expected to have excellent manuscript and grant writing skills and be extremely committed to becoming independent in these skills. (7) Candidates are expected to demonstrate excellent oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

(1) Experience in working with/cultivating Orientia tsutsugamushi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in eukaryotic tissue culture. (2) Experience in developing genetic tools for O. tsutsugamushi and/or A. phagocytophilum. (3) Experience in using confocal microscopy, electron microscopy, structured illumination microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy, and live cell imaging to study obligate intracellular bacteria-host cell interactions. (4) Experience in using Fiji, other imaging software, and writing custom scripts to achieve cutting-edge image analysis. (5) Experience in studying obligate intracellular bacterial development, preferably Anaplasma, Orientia, and related pathogens such as Chlamydia. (6) Experience performing infection assays using intracellular bacterial pathogens. (8) Transfection, siRNA, CRISPR.

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