Job Description

Department Overview

The School of Dentistry shares the mission of the Oregon Health & Science University to provide educational programs, basic and clinical research, and high quality care and community programs. We strive to foster an environment of mutual respect where the free exchange of ideas can flourish. The dental school prepares graduates in general dentistry and the dental specialties to deliver compassionate and ethical oro-facial health care.

Function/Duties of Position

Postdoctoral Researcher - Bacterial Membrane Vesicles and T/B-Cell Immunology

The Kreth laboratory at Oregon Health & Science University is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to investigate interactions between membrane vesicles produced by oral commensal streptococci and the host immune system. This position will support an NIH/NIDCR R21 project examining how streptococcal membrane vesicles influence T/B-cell activation, differentiation, and pathways associated with autoimmune responses.

The project combines oral microbiology, molecular biology, bacterial membrane-vesicle biology, and cellular immunology. The desired candidate will isolate and characterize bacterial membrane vesicles, conduct primary T/B-cell and immune-cell culture experiments, and evaluate cellular responses using flow cytometry, immunoassays, gene-expression analysis, and related molecular approaches.

The purpose of this postdoctoral position is to investigate how membrane vesicles produced by oral commensal streptococci interact with the host immune system. The postdoctoral researcher will integrate oral microbiology, bacterial membrane-vesicle biology, molecular biology, and cellular immunology. The work will include the isolation and characterization of bacterial membrane vesicles, immune-cell stimulation experiments, and analysis of cellular responses using flow cytometry, immunoassays, gene-expression analysis, and related molecular approaches. The position will also contribute to data analysis, scientific publications, presentations, and collaborative research within the laboratory and across disciplines.

Primary responsibilities:

• Culture streptococci and isolate and characterize bacterial membrane vesicles.
• Perform immune-cell stimulation experiments.
• Assess T/B-cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, cytokine production, and antibody responses.
• Perform flow cytometry, ELISA, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and related molecular and immunological assays.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data and maintain detailed research records.
• Contribute to manuscripts, scientific presentations, and grant-related reports.
• Work collaboratively with investigators in microbiology, immunology, and oral health research.

Required Qualifications

• PhD, MD, DDS or an equivalent doctoral degree in immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, oral biology, or a related discipline
• New post-doc, 1 year experience
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and standard molecular biology techniques
• Strong organizational, analytical, and scientific communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team
• Work will be performed in a normal molecular biology focused lab, at OHSU MRB 433
• Normal working hours. Occasional requests to work on weekends to maintain cultures and perform longer experimental set-ups.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established post-doc, 1 to 5 years experience
• Experience isolating and culturing primary T/B cells or other immune-cell populations
• Experience with multicolor flow cytometry and immune-cell phenotyping
• Knowledge of immune cell biology, antibody responses, or autoimmune disease mechanisms
• Experience with bacterial culture, bacterial membrane vesicles, host-microbe interactions, or oral microbiology
• A record of peer-reviewed publications

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu