Africa Health Research Institute is looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and independent postdoctoral researcher to be based in the joint laboratories of Henrik Kløverpris and Alasdair Leslie in Durban, South Africa. The lab’s research is centred around immune responses to HIV infection with a particular focus on novel areas of innate lymphoid cells located within human tissue.
About AHRI
The Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) is one of South Africa’s largest independent research institutes. Our principal funders are Wellcome Trust and HHMI; it is the only research institute in the world receiving substantial joint funding from these two donors. UKZN and University College London are AHRI’s research and academic partners.
Postdoc opportunity
We offer a position with great opportunity and potential to study a novel area of HIV infection through unique human tissue samples in state-of-the-art research facilities with access to new technologies through international collaborations.
The position will be based in the joint laboratories of Henrik Kløverpris and Alasdair Leslie with shared lab meetings, laboratory space and support.
The post is funded on a 5-year Wellcome Trust grant and will be for 24 months, with the opportunity for extension.
Job Summary
Our lab’s research is centred around immune responses to HIV infection with a particular focus on novel areas of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) located within human tissue. Although we have recently shown that HIV infection has a rapid and dramatic impact on ILCs, little is known about the role of ILCs in response to HIV infection and in particular the role of tissue resident ILCs during infection.
Despite tissue compartments playing a central role in understanding the response to HIV infection, most studies to date have focussed on responses located in peripheral blood. Our work aims to better understand the immune responses located in human tissue that are directly related to disease pathology. The laboratory focuses on ILCs in human tissue from HIV infected and uninfected individuals sampled from our clinical research sites in and around Durban.
Qualifications and experience
We are looking for someone with:
- A PhD in a relevant subject (Immunology)
- A solid and strong background in immunology
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to prepare results for publication and draft their own manuscripts.
- Interest in helping to train and oversee students and support more junior members of the lab.
- Ability to contribute to experimental design working collaboratively with other members of the team
- Experience with fluorescent microscopy
- Experience with bioinformatics analysis
- Experience with clinical samples and human primary cells
- A proven track record of publishing papers in high impact peer reviewed journals
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Good interpersonal skills and team orientated
Application details:
To apply, please submit your CV, a letter of motivation and your publication record to henrik.kloverpris@ahri.org
Application closing date is 30 June, 2017.