Postdoctoral Associate at Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech is seeking a passionate and dedicated Postdoctoral Associate to join the Kehn-Hall Lab within the College of Veterinary Medicine. The lab focuses on critical research related to emerging viruses, including Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), Venezuelan equine encephalitic virus (VEEV), and eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV). The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in researching FDA-approved drugs for repurposing against viruses with pandemic potential.
Designation
Postdoctoral Associate
Job Details
| Title | Postdoctoral Associate |
|---|---|
| Research Area | Emerging Viruses |
| Location | Blacksburg, Virginia |
| Appointment Type | Restricted |
| Salary Information | Commensurate with experience |
| Review Date | January 15, 2025 |
Eligibility/Qualification
- Required Qualifications:
- PhD in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field (PhD awarded no more than four years prior to effective date of appointment, with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining).
- Experience working with RNA viruses.
- Proficiency in cell culture and in vitro viral techniques (infections, plaque assays, generation of virus through reverse genetics).
- Molecular and/or protein biology skills (RT-qPCR, western blotting, immunoprecipitations, DNA/RNA extractions, plasmid prep, molecular cloning, transfections).
- Capability to receive Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval.
- Experience in independently organizing and conducting complex procedures with minimal supervision.
- Enthusiastic and dedicated, with an interest in learning new techniques.
- Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with organoid systems.
- Experience working with select agents in Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3).
- Proficiency in antiviral activity testing, including CC50 and EC50 determinations.
- Familiarity with immunohistochemical staining and confocal fluorescent microscopy.
- Experience with infectious disease rodent models, including inoculations, blood collection, drug treatments, clinical symptom monitoring, euthanasia, necropsies, and viral titers analysis.
Job Description
The Postdoctoral Associate will be responsible for conducting cutting-edge research to identify FDA-approved drugs for repurposing against viruses with pandemic potential. Responsibilities include collaboration with computer scientists to utilize “omics” datasets and machine learning techniques to identify drugs targeting dysregulated pathways/proteins in virally infected cells. The role includes developing liver and/or brain organoid cultures and testing candidate drugs in organoid systems and animal models of infection, initially focusing on RVFV but with potential expansion to other emerging viruses.
The position is highly collaborative and multidisciplinary, involving interaction with virologists, computer scientists, and chemical engineers as part of the newly NSF-funded COMPASS Center’s wider scientific community.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume/CV, a cover letter, and contact information for at least two references through the Virginia Tech careers portal.
Last Date to Apply
Open until filled. Applications are encouraged to be submitted before the review date of January 15, 2025.
Join us at Virginia Tech and contribute to vital research in virology to help tackle emerging pandemics!
