An NIH funded postdoctoral position is available to study maternal and fetal immune responses to infections in pregnancy, including COVID-19 infection and/or vaccination in pregnancy, malaria, and syphilis in the laboratory of Stephanie Gaw, MD PhD, Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Center for Reproductive Sciences, UCSF.
Gaw Lab Focus: The lab is focused on understanding of the unique innate and adaptive immune responses in pregnancy to infection and vaccination, with a focus on global infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, malaria, and syphilis. Our studies leverage biospecimens collected from pregnancy cohorts, applying advanced “-omics” based techniques on human samples to understand placental responses to infectious exposure, and the functional impact on placental development as it relates to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Projects: The Gaw Lab has robust clinical, basic, and translational collaborations. Our research group has established large sample banks of placentas, maternal and cord plasma, PBMC, saliva, breast milk, and meconium specimens in order to better understand the unique cellular and humoral immunologic responses of pregnancy (for both the mother and the developing fetus) to COVID-19 vaccinations and infections and malaria. We are also launching a prospective cohort to develop new diagnostic tests for syphilis in pregnancy. Techniques employed in the lab include in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, spatial transcriptomics, RNAsequencing, laser microdissection, and mass spectrometry. We also employ primary human placental explant models to investigate placental tissue responses to exposures and susceptibility to infection. We have robust collaborations with other laboratories for functional antibody analysis, spectral flow cytometry, mass cytometry, and antibody epitope profiling.
Our lab culture is highly collaborative; in addition to leading their own project, the postdoctoral fellow will have opportunities to contribute to other team projects in the lab and to develop and participate in grant-writing and external collaborations — as well as mentoring of students and junior lab members as part of career development. Additional professional development opportunities will be available through the many training programs offered at UCSF. Candidates interested pregnancy and early childhood translational human immunology research are encouraged to apply.
Mentoring: Opportunities will be available to mentor undergraduates, professional students, and clinical fellows for projects.
Collaborations: The lab has collaborations with investigators across UCSF, Stanford University, Gladstone Institute, Makerere University/IRDC Uganda, and Fiocruz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a PhD, MD/PhD, or MD degree and experience in reproductive immunology, microbiology, or infectious diseases. Experience with basic molecular biology, human immunology, cell culture, bioinformatic analysis of epigenetic, transcriptomic and/or proteomic data, and tissue-based analysis is strongly preferred. Experience with virology and/or cellular immunology is highly desirable, but not required. The candidate needs to be able to work both independently and in a collaborative and diverse team. Excellent organizational and communication skills, as well as evidence of successful scientific writing, is required. Members of underrepresented minority groups and women are strongly encouraged to apply.
UC San Francisco seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. 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.
Interested individuals should send a letter of interest detailing relevant experience and career goals, curriculum vitae, and the names of three references (title, phone number and email) to Dr. Stephanie Gaw at Stephanie.Gaw at ucsf.edu. The position will be open until filled.
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