Department: MED-Inst for Pub Health & Med
Salary/Grade: RES

Job Summary:

A postdoctoral/immunologist position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Igor Koralnik, Chief of the Neuro-Infectious Diseases and Global Neurology Division at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in the Department of Neurology.

By working closely with multifaceted teams of the Neurology department and international collaborators, the successful candidate will be well placed to undertake cutting-edge research aimed at elucidating the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in long COVID patients with neurologic symptoms. These include brain fog, fatigue, and sleep disturbances after COVID-19. By understanding how SARS-CoV-2 infection alters the balance between antiviral and autoimmune T cell responses in patients with long COVID, we hope that novel treatment and prevention options will be uncovered.

Please Note: Occasional weekends and evenings as requested and with some possible travel, as required.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Determining how SARS-CoV-2 reprograms the T cell response to impact neurologic function in long COVID
• Assessing how the balance between antiviral and autoimmune T cell responses contribute to long Neuro-COVID symptoms
• Investigating how T regulatory cell function correlates with sleep disturbances in elderly patients with and without long COVID
• Correlating results from immunoassays, proteomics, and T Cell Receptor sequencing data with clinical symptoms of long COVID

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD or MD/PhD within Immunology with a focus on virology/microbiology or autoimmunity.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Familiarity with immunological techniques, including but not limited to: ELISA, ELISPOT, cytotoxicity assays.
• Experience with flow cytometry, including using FlowJo for data analysis.
• Extensive experience with cell culture techniques, including generating and maintaining T cell lines.
• Experience with analysis and data visualization of transcriptomic data.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD or MD/PhD within immunology

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Experience in/working knowledge of biostatistics/statistical viromics or genetics

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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About Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a major private research university with 12 academic divisions located on three campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Education City in Doha, Qatar. We have approximately 2,500 full-time faculty members, 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and over 5,700 full and part-time staff. Northwestern University combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment. It provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth.

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