Are you energized by the challenge of integrating genetic insight, immunology, and cutting edge technology to develop novel RNA-based therapeutics to treat autoimmune disease? If so, this Post-Doc Research Associate position could be an exciting opportunity to consider.

Job Purpose

As a “Post-Doc Research Associate in Immunology and Technology Discovery”, you will develop translational cell-based assays to modulate immune response and engineer immune cell-selective innovative therapeutic approaches.

The goal of this post-doctoral role will be focused on the identification of novel drug targets suitable for RNA-based therapies and their delivery technologies to address immune disorders with high unmet need. The postdoc would work with the Immunology and Novel Human Genetics Research Units within GSK R&D and an academic laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. This is a unique opportunity to customize project deliverables and perform wet-bench research to advance novel techniques, and to lead a preclinical technology development project that combines the expertise of a world-class biopharmaceutical company and a leading academic center.

This role will be located at the GSK Upper Providence site in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, andthe laboratory of Dr. Jordan J. Green at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. The postdoc hired for this position must be willing to relocate during the three-year period to spend approximately half of the three-year term working at the GSK Collegeville, PA site and half at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Details (Your Responsibilities)

Post-doctoral fellows within GSK’s global collaborative training program will have the opportunity to:

• Be part of cutting edge science to advance GSK’s mission ‘to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together’.
• Accelerate your post-doctoral research with GSK’s extensive R&D engine.
• Bridge the gap from target identification to medicine for patients in-need by leveraging GSK’s: Tools, Technologies, Libraries, Samples, People, Knowledge Base, & Training program.
• Postdoctoral research will be focused on addressing the critical R&D challenges that have been selected as cutting-edge science and are optimal areas of science for post-doctoral training.
• Your Postdoctoral experience will be accompanied by tremendous support at GSK with the opportunity for daily collaborations with world-class scientists. GSK is committed to providing each postdoc with a mentor who will be focused on providing a comprehensive training program and are expected to nurture skills that will enable postdocs to become independent scientific investigators.
• During your time at Johns Hopkins University you will be immersed in the Biomaterials and Drug Delivery laboratory within the Biomedical Engineering department. You will collaborate amongst leading academic researchers and have access to innovative technologies at the interface of biology, chemistry and engineering. Mentorship and scientific growth will be achieved through participation in lab meetings and seminars and participation in the Johns Hopkins Translational ImmunoEngineering Center activities.
• Ideal candidates will: set direction & inspire, work across boundaries, release energy, develop capabilities, drive performance, and live the GSK values, serving patients and consumers.

Why you?

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree or a M.D./Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Immunology, or Immunoengineering, completed within the past 3 years.
• One or more years of experience in cell culturing, including primary immune cells, cell transfection and infection, and viral, polymer, and/or lipid siRNA or shRNA delivery
• One or more years of experience with methods to detect changes in RNA and protein expression (e.g. RT-PCR, Western blot/JESS, Immunocytochemistry)
• One or more years of experience in functional assay development and execution in immune cells

Preferred Qualifications:

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:

• Experience in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived immune cell differentiation and manipulation
• Experience developing novel biomaterials or bioengineering platforms (e.g. polymer synthesis, nanoparticle fabrication, material characterization)
• Knowledge and hands-on experience with RNAi
• Experience with human cellular complex/co-culture models or ex vivo tissue explants
• Experience with flow cytometry and immunophenotyping
• Experience with drug delivery in mouse models

To be successful in the role, this person would need the ability to understand, interpret, and communicate complex scientific data; must be comfortable conversing with opinion leaders regarding highly technical information; must be a self-starter able to handle multiple projects concurrently; possess a good balance of creative, analytical and strong communication skills; ability to be productive and successful in an intense work environment and he/she must be a Team Player.

Why GSK?

#LI-GSK

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of 2030.

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a workplace where everyone can feel a sense of belonging and thrive as set out in our Equal and Inclusive Treatment of Employees policy. We’re committed to being more proactive at all levels so that our workforce reflects the communities we work and hire in, and our GSK leadership reflects our GSK workforce.

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