Postdoctoral Research Associate, Harrison Lab Full-time

Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) has a bold mission: Predict, prevent, reverse and cure immune system diseases, from autoimmune disease to cancer to COVID-19. We examine the immune system in both health and disease to understand how disorders start and how to rebalance the immune system back to health. Equipped with innovative tools and robust biorepositories, our team chips away at the biggest mysteries behind these conditions to work toward our vision of a healthy immune system for all. As an independent non-profit organization within Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we collaborate with clinicians to accelerate the path from innovative lab discoveries to life-changing patient care.

At BRI, each role is valued and an important contributor to the vision and mission. BRI is committed to a safe, caring and diverse workplace; as well as to taking action to further our commitments to foster inclusion, equity and belonging so employees feel comfortable bringing their full selves to work. Consider making a difference, join our team. Because together, we are Powering Possibility.

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Overview
The Harrison Lab at the Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) in Seattle, WA is seeking highly-motivated postdoctoral candidates in the areas of mucosal immunology, specifically T and B cell responses to commensal microbes.

Benaroya Research Institute is an internationally recognized medical research institute focused on finding cures for autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases. We stress excellence in advanced laboratory experimentation and carefully designed translational research programs. This offers our scientists the opportunity to directly impact the lives of people suffering from diseases including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, allergies and asthma.

The Harrison Lab (www.harrison-lab.org) works to understand the mechanisms controlling host-microbe interactions at barrier sites such as the skin and gastrointestinal tract. We study how our resident commensal microbes influence the development, education and function of our immune system. To do so, we utilize a multi-disciplinary approach combining development and implementation of tools to track commensal-specific T and B cells in healthy and inflamed tissues, with single-cell and population level transcriptomics and epigenetic analyses of T and B cell differentiation to investigate how the host mounts and regulates immunity to the microbiome.

Responsibilities
Potential projects in the Harrison Lab will build on exciting recent findings including:

• The transcriptional and epigenetic basis of commensal-specific T cell differentiation during healthy immune responses and immune-mediated diseases.
• Post-transcriptional regulation of tissue-resident T cell function.
• T cell-epithelial cell cross-talk during wound healing.
• Induction and regulation of commensal-specific B cells in the gastrointestinal tract.

Requirements
A recent, or anticipated, PhD, MD or MD/PhD in Immunology or related field is required. Experience in immunology, molecular biology and/or bioinformatics-based analysis of epigenetic/transcriptomic datasets are strongly preferred. Experience of animal models of inflammation or infection is preferable but not essential. Interested candidates should send inquiries, including a 1-page description of their current work, and a C.V., to oharrison@benaroyaresearch.org.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.

Tagged as: Life Sciences