Tufts University School of Medicine
Postdoctoral Scholar - host-pathogen interactions
Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
Be among the first 25 applicants for a Postdoctoral or Senior Research Scientist position in the Strle Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine. The lab seeks candidates with expertise in (1) immunology, microbial immunopathogenesis, or host‑pathogen interactions and (2) bioinformatics and/or computational biology. The ideal candidate has a strong record of productivity and the ability to apply mechanistic immunology to translational infectious disease research, involving microbe and host.
About the Strle Lab —part of the expanding Lyme Disease Initiative at Tufts—focuses on human immunology, pathogen genomics, and clinical outcomes in Lyme and other tick‑borne diseases. The lab combines molecular immunology, cellular assays, and in vitro/ex vivo models with genomic/transcriptomic analyses of patient‑derived samples to uncover mechanisms that distinguish protective from pathogenic immune responses and how host‑microbial determinants influence disease trajectories. Projects involve collaborations across the U.S. and Europe.
Immunology Postdoc Primary Responsibilities
Design and execute mechanistic studies exploring innate and adaptive immune responses mainly to B. burgdorferi spp. and other tick‑borne pathogens.
Investigate how host immune pathways/phenotypes are modulated by bacterial genotypes, virulence factors, or products, using in vitro and ex vivo models (histology experience is a plus).
Perform microbial culture and experimentation (co‑culture with mammalian cells; strain engineering is a plus).
Analyze datasets of immunological output(s) and link results with clinical information and/or microbial genomic data.
Collaborate with clinicians, bioinformaticians, and genomics partners to translate findings into mechanistic insights and therapeutic hypotheses.
Contribute to manuscript preparation, grant proposals, and mentoring of junior lab members.
Immunology Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate in immunology, microbiology, or a related field.
Strong background in innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, including cytokine signaling, antigen presentation, and effector responses.
Proven experience with primary mammalian immune cells or in vitro infection models (PBMC, macrophages, dendritic cells, fibroblasts).
Proficiency in flow cytometry, ELISA/MSD, Luminex or other bead‑based assays, and molecular biology techniques (q/RT/dd‑PCR, CRISPR).
Familiarity with transcriptomic and/or proteomic datasets.
Willingness to work with infectious agents in a Biosafety Level 2 environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
Publication record in host‑pathogen interactions or translational immunology.
Experience with B. burgdorferi spp. or other tick‑borne pathogens is a plus.
Experience with system serology or gene perturbation (siRNA/CRISPR) is a plus.
Bioinformatics Postdoc Primary Responsibilities
Lead and perform comparative genomic analyses of B. burgdorferi spp. isolates (SNP detection, genome assembly, annotation, pangenome analysis, and phylogenetics).
Develop and apply computational pipelines for multi‑omic integration (WGS including Oxford‑Nanopore, RNA‑seq, single‑cell, and spatial transcriptomics).
Identify genetic determinants of virulence and persistence, linking microbial variants to host immune signatures and patient outcomes.
Collaborate with experimentalists to design and interpret genomics‑guided functional studies.
Contribute to manuscript preparation, grant proposals, and mentoring of junior lab members.
Bioinformatics Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate in biostatistics/bioinformatics, microbiology, genomics, or a related field.
Strong programming skills in Python, R, and familiarity with Linux/Unix environments.
Proven experience in bacterial genomics, including genome assembly and annotation, SNP and structural variant analysis, phylogenetic and population‑genomic analysis, comparative genomics and pangenome construction, and transcriptomic analysis (bulk or single‑cell RNA‑seq).
Familiarity with metagenomics, spatial or single‑cell transcriptomics is highly desirable.
Willingness to work with infectious agents in a Biosafety Level 2 environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Publication record in computational/bacterial genomics or systems biology.
Experience with B. burgdorferi spp. or other tick‑borne pathogens is a plus.
Knowledge of machine learning or network‑based genomic modeling is a plus.
Application Instructions Please submit a cover letter describing your research interests and relevant experience, together with a CV.
Salary and Employment Salary is based on experience using the NIH scale. The position is full‑time and requires completion of appropriate background checks at the time of hire, promotion, or transfer.
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About the Strle Lab —part of the expanding Lyme Disease Initiative at Tufts—focuses on human immunology, pathogen genomics, and clinical outcomes in Lyme and other tick‑borne diseases. The lab combines molecular immunology, cellular assays, and in vitro/ex vivo models with genomic/transcriptomic analyses of patient‑derived samples to uncover mechanisms that distinguish protective from pathogenic immune responses and how host‑microbial determinants influence disease trajectories. Projects involve collaborations across the U.S. and Europe.
Immunology Postdoc Primary Responsibilities
Design and execute mechanistic studies exploring innate and adaptive immune responses mainly to B. burgdorferi spp. and other tick‑borne pathogens.
Investigate how host immune pathways/phenotypes are modulated by bacterial genotypes, virulence factors, or products, using in vitro and ex vivo models (histology experience is a plus).
Perform microbial culture and experimentation (co‑culture with mammalian cells; strain engineering is a plus).
Analyze datasets of immunological output(s) and link results with clinical information and/or microbial genomic data.
Collaborate with clinicians, bioinformaticians, and genomics partners to translate findings into mechanistic insights and therapeutic hypotheses.
Contribute to manuscript preparation, grant proposals, and mentoring of junior lab members.
Immunology Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate in immunology, microbiology, or a related field.
Strong background in innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, including cytokine signaling, antigen presentation, and effector responses.
Proven experience with primary mammalian immune cells or in vitro infection models (PBMC, macrophages, dendritic cells, fibroblasts).
Proficiency in flow cytometry, ELISA/MSD, Luminex or other bead‑based assays, and molecular biology techniques (q/RT/dd‑PCR, CRISPR).
Familiarity with transcriptomic and/or proteomic datasets.
Willingness to work with infectious agents in a Biosafety Level 2 environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
Publication record in host‑pathogen interactions or translational immunology.
Experience with B. burgdorferi spp. or other tick‑borne pathogens is a plus.
Experience with system serology or gene perturbation (siRNA/CRISPR) is a plus.
Bioinformatics Postdoc Primary Responsibilities
Lead and perform comparative genomic analyses of B. burgdorferi spp. isolates (SNP detection, genome assembly, annotation, pangenome analysis, and phylogenetics).
Develop and apply computational pipelines for multi‑omic integration (WGS including Oxford‑Nanopore, RNA‑seq, single‑cell, and spatial transcriptomics).
Identify genetic determinants of virulence and persistence, linking microbial variants to host immune signatures and patient outcomes.
Collaborate with experimentalists to design and interpret genomics‑guided functional studies.
Contribute to manuscript preparation, grant proposals, and mentoring of junior lab members.
Bioinformatics Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate in biostatistics/bioinformatics, microbiology, genomics, or a related field.
Strong programming skills in Python, R, and familiarity with Linux/Unix environments.
Proven experience in bacterial genomics, including genome assembly and annotation, SNP and structural variant analysis, phylogenetic and population‑genomic analysis, comparative genomics and pangenome construction, and transcriptomic analysis (bulk or single‑cell RNA‑seq).
Familiarity with metagenomics, spatial or single‑cell transcriptomics is highly desirable.
Willingness to work with infectious agents in a Biosafety Level 2 environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Publication record in computational/bacterial genomics or systems biology.
Experience with B. burgdorferi spp. or other tick‑borne pathogens is a plus.
Knowledge of machine learning or network‑based genomic modeling is a plus.
Application Instructions Please submit a cover letter describing your research interests and relevant experience, together with a CV.
Salary and Employment Salary is based on experience using the NIH scale. The position is full‑time and requires completion of appropriate background checks at the time of hire, promotion, or transfer.
#J-18808-Ljbffr