School of Medicine:

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation’s top medical schools. Ranked tenth among its peers, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where traditional barriers are low, interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced, and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve humanhealth locally and around the globe.

Comprised of 2,400 faculty physicians and researchers, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing and Duke University Health System create Duke Health. Duke Health is a world-class health care network. Founded in 1998 to provide efficient, responsive care, the health system offers a full network of health services and encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Private Diagnostic Clinic, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

The Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI), an international leader in the fight against major infectious diseases, is currently recruiting for Postdoctoral Associates to join our research team. The Duke Human Vaccine Institute is an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental institute dedicated to the study of basic and translational science required to understand host-pathogen interactions that can be translated to vaccines against human diseases. We are a team of highly interactive investigators that have expertise in immunology, molecular biology, virology, microbiology, computational biology, and vaccine science and are seeking a highly motivated recent PhD graduate who is interested in Immunobiology or related scientific field to play an integral role in the following project under the direction of Dr. Munir Alam.

A HIV-1 Envelope (Env) vaccine that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) has remained elusive, in part due to the limited understanding of the mechanisms of bnAb induction during natural infection. Recent advances in Env protein designs have provided several key potential immunogens, however, how such antigens are sensed by BCRs on B cells that participates in anti-HIV-1 immune responses that generate bnAbs is not well understood. We are studying how HIV-1 Env proteins of varying affinities are sensed by B cells and initiate early signaling events for activation of B cells with HIV-1 bnAbs’ specificities that are key vaccine targets. Using high- resolution microscopy and biophysicalassays, and relevant B cell lines and B cells from knock-in mice expressing B cell antigen receptors (BCR) of HIV bnAbs and germline precursors, we aim to define the key properties of BCR-antigen interactions and early nanoscale B cell membrane reorganization events that promote co-stimulation and optimal B cell activation. This research project is a collaboration with researchers at Duke Human Vaccine Institute, The San Diego Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Freiburg, Germany.

The DHVI has a dynamic mentoring program, and our postdoctoral associates work in concert with Duke faculty and staff in an invigorating research training environment. One of our primary scientific missions is to support and train early stage investigators to be the next generation of scientific leaders equipped to identify and implement solutions for improving human health worldwide. DHVI functions as a vaccine development biotechnology enterprise, embedded within a top university. As a trainee within our mentoring program, you will interactwith highly innovative and collaborative investigators and have the opportunity to master state of the art technologies. We are committed to providing an outstanding training environment and research experiences that will enhance your career and provide you an avenue to incorporate your education, expertise, initiative and dedication to the success of the studies. This is an opportunity to become part of a winning team that is working to discover novel ways to prevent infectious diseases.

PhD or MD degree in a biological science or related field

Immunobiology research experience. Must be able to manage multiple and changing priorities in an interactive team environment with strong detail orientation and communication skills.

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Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.