Job TitlePostdoctoral Research AssociateAgencyTexas A&M University Health Science CenterDepartmentMicrobial Pathogenesis and ImmunologyProposed Minimum SalaryCommensurateJob LocationCollege Station, TexasJob TypeStaffJob DescriptionOur Commitment Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens ourcorevalueswhich are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service. Who we are As one of the fastest-growing academic health centers in the nation, Texas A&M Health encompasses five colleges and numerous centers and institutes working together to improve health through transformative education, innovative research and team-based health care delivery. What we want The Postdoctoral Research Associate will advance our understanding of bacterial-mediated immunotherapies by designing and conducting experiments using various mouse models of disease. This position involves investigating how bacterial agents modulate immune responses to develop novel therapeutic strategies, with a focus on autoimmune disorders and related conditions. The associate will independently execute studies, analyze data, and contribute to publications, while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team under the supervision of the principal investigator. Responsibilities include managing experimental timelines, ensuring rigorous scientific standards, and presenting findings at conferences to support the lab’s mission of translating research into clinical applications.What you need to know Salary: Compensation will be commensurate to the selected hire’s experience. Cover Letter/Resume: A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended and will help in our review. You may upload them on the application under the CV/Resume section. Schedule/Travel: Occasional weekend or evening work to monitor mouse health or complete time-sensitive experiments; opportunity to present research at national conferences, with travel potentially required. Other: Must comply with TAMU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols for ethical mouse model research, including required training prior to starting experiments. Requires adherence to biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) lab standards, including use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and completion of biosafety training.
Please note: This position is grant funded; future employment may be contingent upon future funding.
Required Education
Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in a relevant field such as Microbiology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, or a closely related discipline
Preferred Qualifications
Ph.D. with a focus on immunology, microbiology, or immunotherapy from an accredited institution
2–3 years of research experience in bacterial-mediated therapies or mucosal immunology
Demonstrated expertise in mouse model experimentation, including survival studies or immune profiling (e.g., flow cytometry, ELISA)
Experience with statistical analysis software (e.g., GraphPad Prism, R) for immunological data interpretation
Prior publication record in peer-reviewed journals related to immunotherapy or autoimmune disorders
Related experience in postdoctoral research, with demonstrated expertise in immunology, microbiology, or mouse model experimentation preferred
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of immunological principles and bacterial-host interactions in disease models
Ability to design and execute in vivo experiments using mouse models effectively
Skill in analyzing immunological data with techniques such as flow cytometry and qPCR
Ability to interpret and present complex scientific data orally and in writing
Strong organizational skills to manage experimental timelines and lab resources
Working knowledge of statistical software (e.g., GraphPad Prism, R) for data analysis
Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary research teams
Skill in drafting and revising manuscripts for peer-reviewed scientific journals
Responsibilities
Experimental Design and Execution: Design and conduct in vivo experiments to evaluate bacterial agents’ effects on immune responses in mouse models of disease. Administer bacterial treatments, monitor mouse health, and collect biological samples (e.g., blood, tissue) for analysis. Optimize protocols to ensure reproducibility and compliance with IACUC standards.
Data Analysis and Interpretation: Analyze immunological data using techniques such as flow cytometry, ELISA, and qPCR to assess immune modulation. Perform statistical analyses (e.g., using GraphPad Prism or R) to interpret experimental outcomes. Maintain detailed records of results in electronic lab notebooks for publication and grant reporting.
Manuscript Preparation and Dissemination: Draft and revise manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals based on research findings. Prepare figures, tables, and presentations for scientific conferences (e.g., poster or oral talks). Collaborate with team members to integrate findings into broader lab publications.
Lab Maintenance and Collaboration: Maintain mouse colonies, including breeding, genotyping, and record-keeping, to support ongoing experiments. Order supplies and reagents to ensure uninterrupted research progress. Assist lab members with related experiments and share expertise in immunotherapy techniques.
Professional Development and Reporting: Attend lab meetings and present progress updates to the principal investigator and team weekly. Participate in relevant seminars, workshops, or training (e.g., TAMU research compliance) to enhance skills. Contribute to grant proposals by providing preliminary data or written sections as requested.
Why Texas A&M University ?
We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.
Medical, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/medical/) prescription drug, dental, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/dental/) vision, life and AD&D, (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/life-add/) flexible spending accounts , and long-term disability insurance (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/long-term-disability/) with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
12-15 days (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/index.html) of annual paid holidays
Up to eight hours of paid sick leave (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/paid/sick.html) and at least eight hours of paid vacation (https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/paid/vacation.html) each month
Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx)
Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time (https://flourish.tamu.edu/wellness-release-time/)
Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning (https://linkedinlearning.tamu.edu/) training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
Educational release time and tuition assistance (https://livingwell.tamu.edu/employee-tuition-assistance) for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
Living Well, (https://livingwell.tamu.edu/) a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees
Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered, or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.
All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.