Postdoctoral Associate - The Hwang Lab

The Hwang laboratory at the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral associate to investigate host interaction with respiratory viruses in vivo for the goal of developing host-directed therapy (HDT) against pan-respiratory viruses.

Respiratory viruses represent a major global health burden. The most common treatment for respiratory viral diseases is to target viral genomes or proteins. However, viruses can evolve resistance quickly, requiring a new vaccine or drug to be developed constantly, in addition to the danger of newly emerging viruses. The goal of this project is to develop host-directed broad-spectrum anti-viral drugs against respiratory viruses, which can treat infectious diseases from both existing and emerging respiratory viruses. The HDT offers several potential advantages to treating infectious diseases: (1) decreased potential for promoting the emergence of drug-resistant viruses, (2) possibility of developing a single drug that targets multiple viruses, and (3) increased chance of drugs developed for existing viruses to be deployed quickly for emerging viruses or new outbreaks. The development of effective and broad-spectrum HDT could have a dramatic impact on how we treat and prevent infectious diseases. In this project, we will identify novel HDT targets based on the systemic host response to respiratory viral infections in animal models.

The applicant will be expected to work well in a multi-institute's collaboration setting, communicate effectively, and possess a strong desire to contribute to basic and translational research. Training and expertise in virology and animal models are essential. This opportunity is particularly suited for candidates who are passionate about researching on host-pathogen interaction in disease settings, especially virus-induced sepsis.

Our team is ideally seeking a candidate with:

• PhD in virology, microbiology, immunology, or a closely related field
• Records of leading projects successfully through publications in scientific journals and presentations in scientific conferences
• Solid understanding and hands-on experiences in virological and immunological assays, characterizing and modulating primary cells from mice in the presence and absence of infection
• Experiences in RNA sequencings, metabolomics, proteomics, metagenomics, and single-cell data is a big plus

Key Responsibilities:

• Work independently and with team members to design and carry out experiments essential to the individual project and the group's collective success.
• Consult the literature, supervisor, and other scientific staff as needed to troubleshoot experiments.
• Investigate, learn, and develop new methods and technologies that might be relevant to the project.
• Maintain and share detailed experimental records, documentation, and written protocols with team members.
• Contribute to grants, papers, and patents.

Required Skills:

• Excellent communication (oral and written) and wet lab skills, organization, and time management skills.
• High level of initiative and motivation; ability to work independently and with a team.
• Strong desire to learn new methods and ability to think creatively to solve problems.