Job Title: Innovate in Immunology: Postdoctoral Research Associate Position Open
Are you a driven and passionate researcher looking to innovate in the field of immunology? We invite you to join our dynamic team as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. In this role, you will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research projects, explore novel pathways in immunology, and collaborate with a team of experts dedicated to advancing our understanding of the immune system.Apply online for Postdoctoral research in immunology at U.S.
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Shift: Weekday
Position type: Full Time
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
Eligibility: Recent Ph.D. in immunology or cell biology
Preference: Publication records with minimum of one-first author in a peer-reviewed journal
Job Description of Postdoctoral research in immunology in the U.S. :
- A postdoc position is available in the Chi lab.Immunology postdoctoral positions are available in the laboratory of Dr. Hongbo Chi in the Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- The Chi lab investigates immunobiology and cancer immunology, by focusing on metabolic regulation of the immune system (immunometabolism) and its implications in cancer and other diseases. We are particularly interested in understanding the metabolic programs (e.g. amino acid and lipid metabolism), signaling pathways (e.g. mTOR and nutrient-induced signaling), and systems-level regulatory networks (e.g. protein–protein or driver gene–target gene interactions) that regulate basic T cell and dendritic cell biology and antitumor immunity.
- To this end, we apply interdisciplinary strategies by integrating immunological and genetic approaches with cutting-edge systems immunology and functional genomics tools, including in vivo CRISPR screening, single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and network reconstruction.
Possible Interview Questions with answer:
1. Can you describe your research experience in immunometabolism and how it aligns with the Chi lab’s focus?
Sample Answer: During my Ph.D., I investigated the role of amino acid metabolism in T cell activation and differentiation, which piqued my interest in immunometabolism. I also have experience with in vivo metabolic studies in mouse models, which I believe would be valuable in contributing to the lab’s research on metabolic regulation in antitumor immunity.
2. How would you approach studying the connection between amino acid metabolism and T cell biology in the context of antitumor immunity?
Sample Answer: I would start by designing experiments that involve profiling amino acid utilization by T cells within the tumor microenvironment. This could include tracking specific amino acids using stable isotopes and assessing the impact of manipulating amino acid availability on T cell function. Additionally, I would explore how amino acid metabolism intersects with key signaling pathways like mTOR to modulate T cell responses.
3.What techniques or tools have you used for single-cell transcriptomics in your previous research?
Sample Answer: In my previous work, I employed techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze the heterogeneity of immune cell populations. I am proficient in library preparation, data analysis pipelines, and interpretation of scRNA-seq data, which can be beneficial for the lab’s efforts to understand immune cell dynamics at a single-cell level.
4.How do you envision applying in vivo CRISPR screening in your research to investigate immunometabolism and antitumor immunity?
Sample Answer: In vivo CRISPR screening offers a powerful approach to identify key genetic regulators of immunometabolic processes in a physiological context. I would use this technique to systematically knock out specific genes in T cells or dendritic cells and then assess how these genetic perturbations impact their metabolic profiles and antitumor responses. It could reveal novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
5.Could you describe a specific project from your past research that required integrating multiple -omics approaches (e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics)?
Sample Answer: In my previous project on autoimmune diseases, I integrated transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis. By examining gene expression changes, protein abundance, and metabolite profiles simultaneously, I was able to identify key regulatory nodes and metabolic pathways driving disease progression.
6. How do you plan to contribute to the lab’s goal of understanding systems-level regulatory networks in antitumor immunity?
Sample Answer: I believe my expertise in network analysis and computational biology can be instrumental in deciphering the complex regulatory networks involved in antitumor immunity. I would leverage available data and integrate it with our experimental findings to construct interaction networks that highlight critical driver genes and their downstream targets, providing a holistic view of immune system regulation.
7. Can you discuss any challenges you’ve faced in your previous research and how you overcame them?
Sample Answer: In one of my projects, we encountered technical challenges in obtaining high-quality single-cell RNA-seq data from complex tissue samples. To overcome this, I optimized tissue dissociation protocols and cell sorting methods, ensuring the robustness of our data. Collaboration with a bioinformatician also helped us develop tailored analysis pipelines for our unique dataset.
8.How do you stay updated on the latest advancements in immunology and functional genomics?
Sample Answer: I regularly read scientific journals, attend conferences, and participate in seminars and webinars related to immunology and genomics. I am also a member of online research communities and discussion groups, which allow me to engage in scientific discourse and stay informed about cutting-edge techniques and discoveries.
9. Could you provide an example of a project where you had to collaborate effectively with colleagues from different scientific backgrounds?
Sample Answer: In a collaborative project on cancer immunotherapy, I worked closely with immunologists, oncologists, and computational biologists. We successfully integrated our expertise to design a study that combined immunological assays, patient data analysis, and machine learning to predict response to immunotherapy. This interdisciplinary collaboration resulted in a comprehensive understanding of patient stratification.
10.What do you hope to achieve during your postdoc in the Chi lab, and how does it align with your long-term career goals?
Sample Answer: During my postdoc, I aim to make meaningful contributions to our understanding of immunometabolism and antitumor immunity, potentially identifying novel therapeutic targets. This experience will not only enrich my scientific knowledge but also align with my long-term career goal of becoming an independent researcher focused on cancer immunology and metabolism.
Postdoctoral research in immunology
