An NIH/NIAID-funded postdoctoral position is available to study the
immunobiology of negative vaccination in preclinical islet transplant
models in the laboratory of Bernhard Hering at the Schulze Diabetes
Institute at the University of Minnesota. The long-term objective of
this project is the translational application of a tolerogenic negative
vaccination protocol in the clinical settings of islet cell and solid
organ transplantation. The successful candidate will closely interact
with the PI as well as with co-PIs Drs. Steve Miller and Xunrong Luo at
Northwestern University i) to optimize the ‘manufacturing’ of
tolerogenic apoptotic donor cells as negative vaccines and ii) to
investigate the mechanistic effects of preemptive negative vaccination
on anti-donor cellular and humoral immunity. He/she will utilize an
array of techniques (tissue culture, multi-parameter flow MLR, ELISPOTs,
microarray and transcriptome analysis, Luminex, etc.) to determine the
phenotype, frequency, proliferation, effector/regulatory functions, and
memory generation of circulating and isolated graft infiltrating
anti-donor B and T cells. This position will provide an opportunity to
build a novel set of skills and expertise working at the interface of
basic and translational transplantation immunology. Salary and benefits
will be competitive.
Requirements: We are looking for a highly motivated and
enthusiastic candidate with documented expertise in cellular immunology.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. or M.D. preferably with no more than 5
year of postdoctoral experience. Proficiency in reading, writing, and
speaking English and an outstanding publication record (at least one
first-author research paper published in peer-reviewed journal) are
required. Individuals with experience in nonhuman primate and/or human
immunology are particularly encouraged to apply.
To apply: Interested applicants should
submit 1) cover letter briefly describing your research accomplishments,
interests, and career goals, 2) your CV, and 3) contact information of
three references of your current and previous mentors, as one PDF by
email to
bhering@umn.edu. Please include “Postdoctoral Application” in the subject line.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Contact: Bernhard J. Hering, M.D.,
Professor of Surgery and Medicine,
McKnight Presidential Chair in Transplantation Science,
Scientific Director, Schulze Diabetes Institute,
Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota,
420 Delaware St. SE,
Minneapolis, MN 55455;
Phone: 612-626-5697; E-mail:
bhering@umn.edu;
Web Page:
www.diabetes.umn.edu.