Job Description

Position Description

A recently awarded NIAID grant to the multi-disciplinary team of J. Bryers (UW Bioengineering, mRNA vaccine delivery), D. Koelle (UW Infectious Diseases, T cell Immunology), and J. Taylor (Fred Hutch Vaccine and Infectious Diseases, B cell activation dynamics) seeks to develop an injectable polymer platform to deliver multi-cistronic self-replicating mRNA to immunize against Staphylococcus aureus infections. Biofilm infections of tissue and medical prostheses by this pathogen cause severe morbidity and mortality; thus, preventative vaccination is a major unmet medical need. Our group has identified rational vaccine candidates and protocols to address B cell affinity issues.

This is a full-time position that will develop self-replicating multi-cistronic self-replicatiing mRNA vectors for injectable polymer vaccine depots to immunize against Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Qualifications
PhD (or other foreign equivalent) at the time of hire.

Candidates should have a background in mRNA vector construction, vaccine delivery, and verification of successful immunization as substantiated by a history of independent research and scholarly publications. This is a full-time position with a 12-month service period, with the possibility for yearly renewal dependent upon performance and continued funding. The Bryers lab is part of the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. The start date for this position is as soon as possible.

Duties will include conducting original research using bench-scale experiments, disseminating research findings (in peer-reviewed journals, at professional conferences and via project reports), mentoring undergraduate students, and coordinating with other team members. Candidates in the fields of bioengineering, molecular genetics/biology, immunology, nucleic acid vector construction or related field are especially encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to individuals with expertise in molecular and cell biology techniques, multi-parameter flow cytometry, tissue culture, and working with mice.