Posting Expiry
PDF position is available in Professor Yossef Av-Gay’s laboratory at UBC Department of Medicine.
Research Description:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB), is one of the most devastating infectious agents in the world. One third of the world’s population is exposed to Mtb, which kills nearly two million people annually. With the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant TB, there is a pressing need for better and new drugs against Mtb.
Macrophages are key components of the human innate immune system with a defined role of seeking and destroying invading microorganisms. Mtb, however, can neutralize the macrophage’s killing machinery. While isolated inside the phagosomes, Mtb avoids key components of the host immune system. As such, TB disease progression relies on the intimate interaction between the host macrophage and the invading microbe whereby recognition, control and elimination of Mtb are mediated by host signal transduction proteins.
The successful candidate will focus his research on the intracellular life style of Mtb as a target for chemotherapeutic intervention. She / he will continue and advance our screening capabilities, which are unique in Canada. The research will identify key host directed chemicals and novel Natural Products derived compounds active against either defined intracellular host targets, or the whole process by which Mtb establishes successful infection of the human macrophage.
The work is funded by a Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) grant and various industrial partners. Successful candidate will be funded for a minimum of a 2-year period. For a description of the laboratory activities please refer to http://av-gaylab.med.ubc.ca.
Qualifications:
The Candidate should have prior experience in microbiological techniques and / or cell-based assays, and an interest in drug discovery. The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. in Microbiology or Biochemistry (or related disciplines). Related work experience and peer-reviewed publications and strong oral and proven written communication skills are must. Experience in TB research and/or bioinformatics is not required but is a strong benefit. The candidate must be highly organized and able to work effectively within a team environment. She/he will be expected to participate in the training and supervision of fellow trainees, as well as the preparation of grant applications, manuscripts, presentations, and reports.
Interested applicants should send their CV, references (full contact info for 3 previous employers), and a brief research statement detailing your relevant skills and expertise, including past work experiences and future goals, to yossi@mail.ubc.ca. Expected starting date is March 2018.
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