Instructor - Biology jobs in Helena, MT

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the largest institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), conducts and supports a global program of research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.

Postdoctoral fellowship positions are available in the Pathogen-Host Cell Biology Section of the Laboratory of Bacteriology located at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana. See more information about the Laboratory of Bacteriology.

Research in the section is focused primarily on two antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the investigation of human neutrophil biology and function.

Available projects will focus on the development of vaccine approaches for the prevention/treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae or the investigation of S. aureus virulence mechanisms.

Successful candidates will be expected to utilize existing methods and develop new methods or in vivo infection models for these projects. Existing methods include the isolation and handling of human neutrophils and blood components, laboratory animal infection models, confocal and electron microscopy, flow cytometry, molecular biology, genomics, and protein chemistry to study bacteria-host interactions.

Pay and Benefits

• Trainees will receive health insurance and a stipend commensurate with experience.
• Situated in the Bitterroot Valley of southwestern Montana, with easy access to some of the finest outdoor recreational opportunities in North America, RML is an NIAID campus with state-of-the-art facilities for genomics, proteomics, and biological imaging. Investigators work on a variety of human pathogens, including those requiring high-containment laboratories. See more information about RML.

Required

• A doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M., etc.) obtained within the last three years

Preferred

• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

Highly motivated candidates are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to those candidates with a strong background in bacterial pathogenesis, immunology, or bacterial genetics. Experience with pathogenic microbes is desirable but not necessary.

This position is subject to a background investigation. The initial appointment is for two years with the possibility of one-year extensions (up to five years in total).