Post Doctoral Fellow - Virology

The Wan Influenza Systems Biology Lab, Bond Life Sciences Center at the University of Missouri - Columbia

The Wan Influenza Systems Biology Lab is seeking applications for a Post Doctoral Fellow in the area of Virology at the Influenza Systems Biology Laboratory. Our lab is affiliated with the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering; and Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition, Wan Lab is affiliated with the Center for Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases (CIEID), Bond Life Sciences Center, and Institute for Data Science and Informatics at MU.

The Wan Influenza Systems Biology Lab is physically located at the MU Bond Life Sciences Center. Our lab integrates clinical, experimental, computational, and translational approaches to study influenza and SARS-CoV-2, with the goals of improving vaccine and antiviral strategies, mitigating epidemic outbreaks, and enhancing pandemic preparedness. Our lab has access to a newly established large ABSL-2 animal facility for CIEID, designed to study influenza transmission and vaccine efficacy studies with controlled humidity and temperature settings. We also utilize the BSL-3 and ABSL-3 facilities at the Laboratory for Infectious Disease Research (LIDR), a 32,403 sq. ft. Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, approved for work with select agents and toxins. MU also houses multiple core facilities, such as Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center, Metabolomics Center, Molecular Interaction Core, Cell & Immunobiology Core, DNA Core Facility, Informatics Research Core Facility, and Molecular Cytology Core. These resources provide cutting-edge support for advanced imaging, proteomics, metabolomics, and computational modeling, fostering high-impact interdisciplinary research.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will work on projects, which will be involved in one or more of the following areas: 1) Viral Transmission: Investigating the molecular and biophysical mechanisms of virus aerosolization and airborne transmission. Developing animal models to characterize and predict viral spread in different environments. 2) Vaccine Effectiveness and Precision Health Approaches: Exploring the molecular mechanisms affecting vaccine performance and immune imprinting. Developing broadly protective vaccines to enhance vaccine immunity and prevent transmission. 3) Virus Surveillance and Pathogen Discovery: Identifying emerging and re-emerging viral threats at the animal-human interface through pathogen discovery, genomic surveillance, and epidemiological studies.

The candidate will be responsible for recording all methods, results, and other relevant information in an organized manner as instructed by the Principal Investigator. S/he will be expected to perform experiments, data analysis and manuscript preparation. The successful candidate should be highly motivated and is expected to work collaboratively within a diverse team.

We are committed to fostering professional growth through mentorship programs for postdoctoral scholars, collaborations with leading researchers at MU and beyond, and opportunities for grant writing and independent project development.

Shift:

Regular hours, Monday-Friday with flexibility for weekend/evening hours as required for experiment needs

Minimum Qualifications: This position requires a Ph.D. degree in Virology, Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, or related degree

Candidates will be evaluated on their experience in a virology lab.

Please provide a cover letter, CV and contact information of three references.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours' drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County's largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.