Position Description

The Duraisingh Laboratory in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to contribute to a research program focused on the genetic engineering of cultured red blood cells (RBCs), for applications in transfusion medicine, infectious diseases, and therapeutic development. The specific project aims to engineer erythroid cells to generate cultured RBCs with enhanced functional properties for improved survival, altered immunological characteristics, and with novel cell-based therapeutic capabilities.

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary and collaborative effort at the interface of synthetic biology, hematology, and regenerative medicine. Research activities will include the design and implementation of genetic engineering strategies in erythroid cells, development of cell culture and differentiation systems, functional characterization of engineered RBCs, and integration of synthetic biology approaches to optimize cellular performance.

The Fellow will develop an independent research project aligned with the broader goals of the collaboration and will have opportunities to lead publications, make scientific presentations and contribute to collaborative grant activities. The Fellow will work closely with researchers across a unique multi-institutional collaboration, providing access to state-of-the-art approaches in synthetic biology, gene circuit engineering, phenotyping and in vivo models.

The Duraisingh Laboratory studies host-pathogen interactions, focused on malaria, babesiosis, and red blood cells. The laboratory provides a highly collaborative environment with strong mentorship and extensive opportunities for professional development.

Basic Qualifications

Candidates are required to have a Ph.D. in in molecular biology, cell biology, biomedical engineering, hematology, or a related discipline. Demonstrated experience in mammalian cell culture and molecular biology techniques is required.

Additional Qualifications

Prior research experience in stem cell biology, synthetic biology, erythropoietic cultures and flow cytometry-based cellular assays is desirable. Experience with genetic engineering technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9, lentiviral systems, or related genome engineering approaches, is strongly preferred. Candidates should demonstrate strong experimental design and problem-solving skills, a record of scientific productivity, excellent written and oral communication abilities, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary research environments.