A postdoctoral research fellowship is available in the laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey M. Rybak in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The long-term goal of the Rybak lab is to advance the treatment of children with invasive fungal infections by developing new therapeutic strategies to overcome difficult-to-treat fungal pathogens.
Research in the Rybak lab broadly has three areas of emphasis:
• Developing and refining molecular and genetic tools for difficult-to-treat and currently understudied fungal pathogens such as Candida auris and Mucoralean molds
• Integrating the molecular characterization of fungal pathogens and pharmacodynamic studies of antifungal drugs to reveal factors contributing to clinical failures
• Identifying and characterizing novel fungal virulence factors and mechanisms of clinical antifungal resistance
The Rybak lab is looking for a postdoctoral scientist with an interest in antimicrobial resistance and/or host-pathogen interactions. We are looking for candidate with a PhD in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or related field. Ideal candidates will have proven expertise in fungal genetics, molecular techniques, and/or pathogenesis studies and excellent communication skills. Individuals should have the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced research environment. Research will focus on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms contributing to clinical failures when treating infections caused by Candida auris, Mucoralean molds, and other difficult-to-treat fungal pathogens.
What you can expect
- Working closely with the PI to build and explore the novel molecular and genetic approaches to studying and overcoming difficult to treat-fungal-pathogens
- Opportunity to explore the application of cutting-edge technologies in the field of mycology and to learn key concepts, and develop skills pertaining to infectious diseases pharmacotherapy, microbiology, and molecular genetics
- Becoming part of a diverse and growing local and international collaborative network of researchers focusing on the study of fungal pathogens