"Postdoctoral researcher - Innate immunity/Host-microbe interations"

Job Details

NIH-funded post-doctoral positions in innate immunity

The Marc Nishimura lab in the Biology Department at Colorado State University is recruiting 1-2 enthusiastic postdoctoral researchers to join an NIH-funded project to understand fundamental mechanisms of innate immunity across the tree of life.

The Nishimura lab (https://nishimuralab.colostate.edu/) studies host-microbe interactions and is interested in understanding the function of innate immune receptors and the pathogen virulence proteins that are both perceived by, and suppress, the host immune system. We seek to understand the function of Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) proteins as enzymes to produce novel small molecule immune-regulating signals from nucleotides. This protein family is present in diverse prokaryotic and plant immune receptors, as well as the animal SARM1 protein, fueling compartive studies of cell death and innate immune systems across the tree of life. Current projects are directed around understanding the function of plant and prokaryotic TIR proteins, how their enzymatic products impact cell death and innate immunity, and the development of engineered immune receptor systems.

Strong applicants will have a PhD and have demonstrated success in driving a research project based on first-author publications in a relevant area. The project requires expertise in one, or more, of the following areas: host-microbe interactions, plant or microbial genetics, genomics, enzymology, biochemistry, structural biology, synthetic biology, receptor biology.

Lab publications:

https://nishimuralab.colostate.edu/publications/

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=lpWjbFMAAAAJ

The Nishimura lab is a friendly, welcoming, and supportive place with great enthusiasm for host-microbe interactions. The Department of Biology at Colorado State University (CSU) is one of eight departments in the College of Natural Sciences. The Department of Biology has an international reputation for excellence in research across a broad array of disciplines, including cell and molecular biology, plant molecular biology, synthetic biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, and computational/theoretical biology. For more information about the Department, please visit: http://www.biology.colostate.edu/

To apply, please email your CV and a letter of interest (including contact info for three references) to: marc.nishimura@colostate.edu

Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Earliest start date is Jan 5th, 2026.

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.