Recruit

The Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is seeking applicants for a full-time Postdoctoral position for 2 years, supported by NIH funding. The incumbent will conduct research in novel therapeutic approaches to treat viral infections including HIV and Covid-19.

Preferred qualifications: Familiar with techniques such as multi-color flow cytometry, sterile technique for cell culture with BSL-2+ practices, ELISA, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, Western Blot and molecular biology techniques. Mouse experience is preferred but is not required. Experience in virology research is preferred but not required. The candidate should be comfortable working with BSL2+ biospecimens including biospecimens (cells, plasma, tissues) from patients or mice with COVID-19 and/or HIV. A Ph.D. is required.

Overview: The pandemic COVID-19 emphasized the need to develop novel therapeutic strategies to combat morbidity and mortality from viral infections. The Kelesidis laboratory focuses on novel antioxidants that target increased bioactive lipids and altered mitochondria to attenuate increased systemic inflammation, immune dysfunction and end organ disease in chronic HIV infection. Importantly these antioxidants were also recently shown to attenuate SARS-CoV-2 viral replication and associated inflammatory responses in lung cells. The lab uses in vitro cell culture models, ex vivo models of atherogenesis and gut explants to dissect mechanisms how the cross talk between bioactive lipids, immune, endothelial and epithelial cells drive atherogenesis and how novel therapeutic agents attenuate aberrant proinflammatory cellular pathways. The lab also uses a preclinical humanized mouse model of chronic treated HIV infection to study in vivo how novel therapies attenuate end organ disease. Recent areas of research include studies of pathogenesis of COVID-19 using preclinical in vitro and animal models of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Updated Interim Amendments. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine Primary Series or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, Religious Objection, and/or Deferral based on pregnancy or recent COVID-19 diagnosis and/or treatment) no later than the applicable deadline. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of receiving the most recent CDC-recommended COVID-19 booster or properly decline such booster no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees should refer to Exhibit 2, Section II.C. of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Attachment for applicable deadlines. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of being Up-To-Date on seasonal influenza vaccination or properly decline such vaccination no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Attachment. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.