Virginia Government
Research Scientist in Chemistry
Virginia Government, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22904
Overview
The Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia is seeking qualified candidates for a Research Scientist position to work in the lab of Professor Marcos Pires. The Research Scientist will design and synthesize small molecules, peptides, and express proteins that label live bacterial cells, with a primary focus on understanding immune recognition mechanisms. The research emphasizes bacterial cell wall biology and host immune responses, particularly involving MHC/HLA antigen presentation pathways and post-translational modifications. The project will investigate mechanisms of compound uptake and retention to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against drug-resistant strains. The researcher will contribute to groundbreaking projects, developing and applying novel methodologies to create new classes of therapeutic agents, and will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of microbiologists, pharmacologists, and computational scientists to understand bacterial resistance and optimize molecular properties for drug delivery. Responsibilities Immunological Analysis: Characterize MHC Class I and Class II antigen presentation pathways, including peptide processing and presentation of bacterial antigens Peptide Synthesis: Perform solution-phase and solid-phase peptide synthesis to generate immunogenic peptides and hapten-conjugated probes Proteomics: Utilize mass spectrometry-based approaches to identify post-translational modifications of bacterial cell wall components influencing immune recognition Protein Expression and Bioconjugation: Express and purify bacterial proteins and perform bioconjugation strategies for immune system targeting Cell Culture and Immunoassays: Maintain primary immune cell cultures and perform functional immunological assays including cytokine analysis and antigen presentation studies Flow Cytometry: Perform multi-parameter analysis to assess immune cell activation and bacterial recognition mechanisms Bacterial Assay Development: Design assays to evaluate immune recognition of modified bacterial surfaces and assess therapeutic potential Research Impact: Publish findings in high-impact journals in immunology, microbiology, and chemical biology, and co-invent on patents related to immune-recruiting bacterial targeting strategies Qualification Requirements Requires a Ph.D. or a Master’s degree with significant experience in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field by the start date Publication Record: Several publications as first or corresponding author in high-impact journals in immunology, microbiology, chemical biology, or related fields Research Independence: Evidence of leading independent research projects Immunology Expertise: Extensive experience in MHC/HLA biology, antigen processing, and T cell activation mechanisms Post-Translational Modification Analysis: Proven track record characterizing protein modifications using mass spectrometry Peptide Chemistry: Proficiency in peptide synthesis, modification, and immunogenicity assessment Cell Culture: Experience with primary immune cell isolation, culture, and functional assays Proteomics: Hands-on experience with quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analysis Application Procedure Apply online at UVA Jobs and search for R0075542. Attach a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the box. Application Deadline Review of applications will begin on September 6, 2025, but the position will remain open until filled. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment. Contact information: Professor Marcos Pires (mp7aa@virginia.edu) for questions about the position; Academic Recruiter Richard Haverstrom (rkh6j@virginia.edu) for questions about the application process. For benefits information for Research Scientists at UVA, visit UVA benefits. The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
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The Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia is seeking qualified candidates for a Research Scientist position to work in the lab of Professor Marcos Pires. The Research Scientist will design and synthesize small molecules, peptides, and express proteins that label live bacterial cells, with a primary focus on understanding immune recognition mechanisms. The research emphasizes bacterial cell wall biology and host immune responses, particularly involving MHC/HLA antigen presentation pathways and post-translational modifications. The project will investigate mechanisms of compound uptake and retention to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against drug-resistant strains. The researcher will contribute to groundbreaking projects, developing and applying novel methodologies to create new classes of therapeutic agents, and will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of microbiologists, pharmacologists, and computational scientists to understand bacterial resistance and optimize molecular properties for drug delivery. Responsibilities Immunological Analysis: Characterize MHC Class I and Class II antigen presentation pathways, including peptide processing and presentation of bacterial antigens Peptide Synthesis: Perform solution-phase and solid-phase peptide synthesis to generate immunogenic peptides and hapten-conjugated probes Proteomics: Utilize mass spectrometry-based approaches to identify post-translational modifications of bacterial cell wall components influencing immune recognition Protein Expression and Bioconjugation: Express and purify bacterial proteins and perform bioconjugation strategies for immune system targeting Cell Culture and Immunoassays: Maintain primary immune cell cultures and perform functional immunological assays including cytokine analysis and antigen presentation studies Flow Cytometry: Perform multi-parameter analysis to assess immune cell activation and bacterial recognition mechanisms Bacterial Assay Development: Design assays to evaluate immune recognition of modified bacterial surfaces and assess therapeutic potential Research Impact: Publish findings in high-impact journals in immunology, microbiology, and chemical biology, and co-invent on patents related to immune-recruiting bacterial targeting strategies Qualification Requirements Requires a Ph.D. or a Master’s degree with significant experience in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field by the start date Publication Record: Several publications as first or corresponding author in high-impact journals in immunology, microbiology, chemical biology, or related fields Research Independence: Evidence of leading independent research projects Immunology Expertise: Extensive experience in MHC/HLA biology, antigen processing, and T cell activation mechanisms Post-Translational Modification Analysis: Proven track record characterizing protein modifications using mass spectrometry Peptide Chemistry: Proficiency in peptide synthesis, modification, and immunogenicity assessment Cell Culture: Experience with primary immune cell isolation, culture, and functional assays Proteomics: Hands-on experience with quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analysis Application Procedure Apply online at UVA Jobs and search for R0075542. Attach a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the box. Application Deadline Review of applications will begin on September 6, 2025, but the position will remain open until filled. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment. Contact information: Professor Marcos Pires (mp7aa@virginia.edu) for questions about the position; Academic Recruiter Richard Haverstrom (rkh6j@virginia.edu) for questions about the application process. For benefits information for Research Scientists at UVA, visit UVA benefits. The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
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