Department OverviewThe Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has assembled a multidisciplinary team of scientists to respond to serious viral disease threats, including AIDS, chronic viral infection-associated diseases, newly emerging viral diseases and infectious diseases of the elderly. Our programs are intended to span the continuum between basic and clinical science, in which discoveries are rapidly advanced from the level of molecular and cellular biology through animal models and ultimately into clinical testing. The development of this unique program in immunology and virology provides an important training opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at OHSU. This is why an important part of our mission is the training of young scientists in newer academic disciplines emerging at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute.Function/Duties of PositionWe are a large nonhuman primate (NHP) research program at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI) focused on 1) the collaborative development of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-based vaccine vectors for prevention and treatment of infectious and neoplastic diseases of global importance, including (in rough order of emphasis) HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, Hepatitis B, influenza and prostate cancer, and 2) the development of novel approaches (both vaccine and non-vaccine) to cure established HIV/SIV infection. To facilitate our goals the research group is comprised of faculty level Program Managers as well as an Administrative Support Group which includes a Laboratory Manager, Project Administrator (budget and compliance) and support staff for administrative duties, supply, procurement, reagent and inventory management, as well as a dedicated Flow Cytometry Group which supports the research focuses described below. Of note, our group interacts on a daily basis with the NHP Pathology Lab and the Infectious Disease Resource (IDR), and closely collaborates with other VGTI labs.Vaccine Development Program (Prevention) – The primary goal of this group is to continue to improve, understand and characterize recombinant CMV vectors for clinical translation. To accomplish this goal, the group is comprised of three primary Focus Groups including: 1) pre-clinical vaccine development and efficacy using the NHP model, 2) CMV immunobiology using molecular techniques, and 3) clinical translation. Each Focus Group is led by a senior technician (Focus Supervisor). Focus Supervisors are supported by Focus Leads that assist in coordinating daily operations and management of technical staff (Research Assistants).HIV Latency Disruption and Immunotherapy Program (Cure) – The focus of this group has been to delineate the mechanisms of SIV pathogenesis in the rhesus macaque model and to understand the cellular and immunological factors that contribute to viral persistence during conditions of optimal immunologic or pharmacologic control. Building on these discoveries, this group has expanded their efforts to include the development and testing of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at achieving eradicative cure or long-term remission from HIV/SIV replication after treatment interruption. Therefore, the primary goal of this group is to continue to develop novel strategies aimed at eliminating latently-infected cells with the goal of facilitating remission from HIV/SIV replication after cART cessation. To accomplish this goal, his laboratory is comprised of two primary Focus Groups including: 1) HIV latency disruption and 2) HIV Immunotherapy. Both groups are managed by a Focus Supervisor and supported by technical staff.Technical staff (Research Assistants) within all Focus groups will be expected to carry out the science associated with various projects and provide the technical support required to meet the program’s research objectives. Technical staff are expected to function independently or as part of a team to ensure all project goals are met. All staff are expected to carry out daily activities of the laboratory, including but not limited to: maintain detailed documentation of the experimental work (digital and physical records); ensure quality control of equipment, reagents and cellular material; work closely with lab members and with outside collaborators; perform and assist with experiments involving cell isolation, immunologic assays, microscopy, flow cytometry, and molecular biology; and maintain close communication with a supervisor regarding progress. The position will involve handling and processing human and non-human primate samples that may contain infectious agents. Additional duties include, but are not limited to the following:
Assists with the design of research studies and procedures in support of research goals and grant commitments.
Assumes responsibility for specific components of research projects.
Performs work of complex difficulty.
With advanced knowledge of research practices, contributes to the development of methodology/ Standard Operating Procedures.
Contributes to the experimental planning and design, manuscript writing, grant or regulatory document preparation, and modification of studies and experiments.
Provides functional guidance for operations and staff. Serves as a mentor to junior staff and may be involved in the daily supervision of laboratory/research staff in routine procedures.
Interacts directly with external research sponsors.
Oversees and facilitates training of junior staff.
Communicates with junior personnel regarding daily priorities (facilitate which assays take priority, if applicable).
Additional duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Doctoral degree in a biological science field.
3+ years of post-doctoral research and work experience in a biology or immunology field.
Must be have experience using computers (Mac, PC), supervising others, doing research with animals, and working with biohazardous samples; Infectious disease laboratory experience, especially sample processing.
All are welcomeOregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.
