Position Summary

The Morley lab seeks an ambitious and motivated post-doctoral fellow to drive a research project addressing their choice of several open questions regarding pulmonary immunity against bacterial infections.

Dr. Morley is a physician scientist with a clinical subspecialty in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and with a keen interest in effective host immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a pathogen that causes millions of deaths a year worldwide. Her R01-funded laboratory primarily uses mouse models to study 1) How the actin-bundling protein L-plastin supports immune cell function, with open projects on structure-function analysis and on how L-plastin promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation, 2) A new project analyzing how mechanotransduction controls pulmonary immune cell development and activation, 3) How a novel single nucleotide variant in a mitochondrial protein (Coenzyme Q6) regulates basal and inflammatory metabolic programs, and how these programs affect immune responses to pathogens and in response to other environmental challenges, and 4) A new translational project analyzing human specimens obtained from subjects with active bacterial infections that builds on findings from the mouse research.

Ideally a candidate will have expertise in multiple wet lab techniques, including mouse handling experience, flow cytometry, ELISAs, immunoblots, and tissue culture. A candidate must also meet high standards of integrity, responsibility and maintain excellent records. It is also expected that a competitive post-doctoral candidate will have completed a Ph.D. thesis and/or an M.D. degree, and authored at least one peer-reviewed manuscript.

The Morley lab is centrally situated on the WashU medical campus with easy access to core facilities. The lab is surrounded by other labs engaged in robust, clinically oriented research endeavors, and Dr. Morley has established collaborators in multiple WashU departments, including the Dept. of Pathology/Immunology, the Dept. of Medicine, the Dept. of Molecular Microbiology, and the Dept. of Cell Biology & Physiology.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/.

Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to):

• Assists with grant preparation and reporting.
• Prepares and submits papers on research.
• Assists in the design of research experiments.
• Evaluates research findings and assists in the reporting of the results.
• Conscientious discharge of their research responsibilities.
• Maintains conformity with ethical standards in research.
• Maintains compliance with good laboratory practice including the maintenance of adequate research records.
• Engages in open and timely discussion with their mentor regarding possession or distribution of material, reagents, or records belonging to their laboratory and any proposed disclosure of findings or techniques privately or in publications.
• Collegial conduct towards co-trainees, staff members and members of the research group.
• Adherence to all applicable University policies, procedures and regulations. All data, research records and materials and other intellectual property generated in University laboratories remain the property of the University.

Working Conditions:

This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Salary Range:

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

No specific work experience is required for this position.

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

At WashU, postdoctoral appointments:

• Have a 5-year term limit that includes previous experience. 

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills:

Collaboration, Data Analysis, Data Interpretations, Experimentation, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Techniques, Researching, Results Reporting, Scientific Writing

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the Universityâ™s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

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