General Summary/Overview Statement:

The DeKosky Laboratory for Immune Engineering and Drug Discovery (https://cheme.mit.edu/profile/brandon-dekosky/, Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=z6TwVlwAAAAJ&hl=en) is seeking to grow in the hiring of a new postdoctoral researcher to apply high-throughput antibody functional screening against a variety of human diseases, including infectious diseases and other targets in cancer and autoimmunity. These efforts will advance basic understanding of immune protection mechanisms while also generating new techniques for rapid and personalized drug discovery. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals that are curious about immune protection and want to participate in the exciting world of understanding how advanced antibody screening technologies can be leveraged to fight diseases. The selected candidate will join a dynamic research team at the forefront of antibody biotechnology and perform experiments to discover and improve antibody discovery for both basic academic understanding and for translational drug and product development.

The selected candidate will join a dynamic research team at the forefront of antibody display and engineering. Our studies are fully funded by the several organizations, including the US National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and several other organizations, with several ongoing efforts and new projects ready to begin. Required qualifications include a Ph.D. at the time of appointment or soon thereafter in immunology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, microbiology, or a related field. Preference will be given to researchers with experience in the study of antibody immunity, especially in high-throughput screening settings.

The Ragon Institute is an internationally renowned immunology-focused research center located in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and with affiliations with MGH, Harvard, and MIT. This position is ideal for individuals who are interested in launching a career as biomedical research leaders in either academia or industry. Successful candidates will be immersed in a rich scientific community and become experts in advanced high-throughput drug development and establish cutting-edge drug screening approaches while being a part of a supportive, highly collaborative research environment with state-of-the-art facilities. The hired candidate will also be an affiliate of MIT, with access to MIT campus research resources and community facilities.

Job Duties:

60% Research - Design and execution of scientific projects

Carrying out original research relative to the laboratory mission. Advance research that pertains to current research topics at the lab, particularly for implementing and advancing new approaches in antibody discovery against difficult drug targets. Work with other lab researchers to implement and consolidate data into presentable formats. Plan and implement scientific studies.

20% Reporting - Write reports and papers

Writes technical reports and scientific papers for peer reviewed journals. Additional responsibilities include assisting in the preparation of preparation of grants/contracts and proposals.

15% Collaboration - Assist other laboratory members and research collaborators with scientific projects

Assist the principal investigator to provide experimental and technical supervision of one or more technician, graduate student and/or post-doctoral researchers and/or fellows. Coordinate with collaborators to advance scientific research projects and proposals.

5% Laboratory protocol - Routine lab management

Ensuring systems are in place for efficient planning of lab supplies, records and document management as well as experimental protocols and data, and coordination of good lab practices and lab safety.

Skills and Competencies Required:

* Ability to analyze and interpret data sets & communicate data in a clear and concise manner

* Ability to work in a team environment, meet deadlines, and prioritize and balance work from multiple individuals

* Good communication skills

* Good time management skills

* Ability to perform multiple tasks independently

* Independently motivated, detail orientated, and good problem solving ability

* A willingness to learn and grow

Required Qualifications:

1. Ph.D. in the area of bioinformatics, immunology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, microbiology, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Research experience in the study of NGS data derived from display systems

2. Expertise in the study of antibodies

3. Research experience in the area of immunology, infectious diseases, or precision drug discovery

4. Demonstrated ability to work successfully as part of a collaborative research effort.

5. Publications or other evidence of scholarly achievement