About the project
The Bowdish lab has received funding from the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) to study immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infections and vaccinations in older adults including those living in long-term care. The applicant will use over 10,000 biobanked saliva, PBMCs, and serum from over 500 participants in addition to participant metadata and detailed infection records to;
- Uncover novel correlates of protection in older and frail adults, including, but not limited to, ACP, ADCC, and cellular immune responses.
- To understand why immune responses are not always protective in older adults and may contribute to subsequent infections.
The successful applicant will have significant leeway to develop an independent research project based on their interests and expertise. The applicant will work closely with an experienced technician and a graduate student, external collaborators, and will have access to biostatistics expertise. If interested, there will be opportunities to teach undergraduate courses.
The initial
contract will be for one year, with the possibility of extending for more
years, depending on productivity. The position is funded, but the applicant
will also apply for internal and external funding sources.
About the Bowdish Lab
The Bowdish Lab is situated at Canada’s most research-intensive university, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario Canada. We are a diverse group of undergraduate students, graduate students, technicians and post-doctoral fellows committed to uncovering how the aging immune system changes and understanding why this alters immune responses to vaccination and respiratory infection. For more details on our lab’s philosophy see http://www.bowdish.ca/lab/lab-philosophy/ . We emphasize teamwork, career development, and leadership. Many of our former PDFs have gone on to independent faculty positions in Canada and abroad.
| Must have;Passion for discovery & evidence of leadership in the form of first-author publications in a relevant field.Team-player with history of collaboration and mentorshipFlow cytometry experienceDeep knowledge of immunity | Nice to have;Experience in human immunology/vaccinologyExperience in antibody quantitation and functional antibody assays (e.g., ADCC, ADP)Experience in intracellular cytokine staining or Experience in science communication with vulnerable populations. |
Application process
Please send Dr. Bowdish (bowdish@mcmaster.ca);
- A cover letter explaining your interest, skills and career goals and potential start-dates.
- A sample of your writing (e.g., first author publication, thesis, other)
- C.V.
- Names and email addresses of 2 references