"Post-Doc Research Associate"

Position Summary/Description:

The UNC HIV Cure Center and The Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invite applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellows. The UNC HIV Cure Center is focused on the discovery, development, and implementation of new treatments to allow durable treatment-free remission of HIV infection. The HIV Cure Center is supported by University and federal funds and by a public-private partnership between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and private companies. The Center seeks to co-mingle academic and industry approaches, redefining research and seeking the breakthroughs needed to tackle this extraordinarily challenging global health issue.

We are seeking research technicians and highly motivated, independent, and dynamic postdoctoral research fellows to undertake studies at the UNC HIV Cure Center, specifically in a project seeking to understand HIV persistence and eradication strategies for the cure of HIV. The UNC HIV Cure Center is a multi-disciplinary research center with various current translational studies. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of HIV latency and persistent HIV infection-associated complications. We seek to discover new anti-HIV latency therapeutic targets that will ultimately lead to the eradication of HIV, including kick and kill, direct killing, and deep latency. Various HIV latency models will be used in these studies, including in vitro and ex vivo cellular models of latency and ART-suppressed rhesus macaque models of latency. Tissues (CNS and peripheral compartments) isolated from people with HIV on ART, SIV/rhesus macaques, and HIV/hu-mice will also be studied.

Education and Experience:

The ideal candidate will have experience and interest in cellular and/or animal models of SIV/HIV infection or other viral infection models with expertise in flow cytometry, tissue culture, and cellular immunology to facilitate translational research at the clinical/basic science interface. He/she should also be proficient in microscopy techniques and immunostaining. Preference will be given to candidates with extensive experience in tissue processing, primary cell culture, flow cytometry, and molecular biology/biochemistry techniques such as co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, qPCR/RT-qPCR/ddPCR, and western blot analysis. Single-cell omics (scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, etc.) training in T-cell biology and/or neurobiology will be a plus. Candidates should also have strong laboratory and analytical skills as demonstrated by a strong track record of relevant first-author publications (postdoc) or co-authored publications (technician) in well-respected journals. Outstanding communication skills in English are essential for this position.