Postdoc Position Available

The Behavioral Immunology Lab of Tulsa is seeking a Post-doctoral Research Scholar!

Job Summary

Become an integral part of our vibrant and collaborative research community at the Behavioral Immunology Lab of Tulsa, located at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences by applying for the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow. We invite highly motivated individuals with a Ph.D. (or nearing completion) in a relevant field to join our dynamic team. This training position offers a unique opportunity to gain clinical research experience in the burgeoning field of psychoneuroimmunology under the mentorship of Dr. Bart Ford, PhD.

Our research focuses on understanding the health impacts of social adversity and stress-related conditions by investigating neuroendocrine and immune dysregulation in human research participants. Recent studies in our lab have delved into the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on immune gene regulation and SARS-COV-2 immune memory. We are now expanding our research to unravel the risk factors associated with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC or "long COVID").

We welcome candidates with a strong interest in psychoneuroimmunology. The successful candidate will exhibit a dedication to research, possess strong communication skills, demonstrate self-motivation, embrace a collaborative work ethic, and showcase creative problem-solving abilities.

Research Topics

Adaptive Immunity
Immune gene regulation
Neuroendocrine pathways
Childhood adversity & chronic stress related conditions
COVID-19 & long-COVID
Health disparities
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
Dysautonomia

Job Responsibilities

Conducting Experimental Research: Design, plan, and execute experiments.
Employ a variety of immunological techniques, including flow cytometry, ELISA,
ELISpot, and other cellular and molecular biology methods.
Clinical Research Involvement: Collaborate with clinical teams to collect and
analyze samples from individuals with clinical symptoms of long COVID. Translate
research findings into potential clinical applications.
Data Analysis and Interpretation: Analyze experimental data using appropriate
statistical methods. Contribute to the interpretation of results and the preparation of
research findings for publication in scientific journals.
Collaboration: Work closely with interdisciplinary teams within the lab and
collaborate with external researchers and clinicians. Engage in scientific discussions
and contribute to the overall research direction of the lab.
Mentorship and Training: Supervise and mentor graduate and undergraduate
students involved in the research projects. Provide training and guidance in
experimental techniques and research methodologies.

Qualifications
Education
- PhD or MD/PhD required
- MD with relevant laboratory experience may substitute for PhD
Work Experience
- Previous experience in a research or academic setting. Graduate student experience
  meets this requirement.
- Scientific writing experience
- Basic statistics
Physical Requirements
- Ability to perform work in a stationary position for extended periods
- Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment
- Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information
- Manual dexterity to handle specimens and repair equipment
- Ability to lift and transport equipment or specimens weighing up to 20 pounds
- May be exposed to hazardous chemicals, bio-hazards, radioactive materials, etc.
Application Materials
Required
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Research Statement (1-2 pages)
  - Please briefly describe your past scientific achievements, then focus on your
    future research plans. Address how your background and career goals align with
    our lab's work.
- 1 to 3 Reference letters
Optional
- A cover letter is not required, but feel free to include one if there is something you'd
  like to communicate that was not addressed in the other material.
- NIH Biosketch
What We Offer
Collaborative Network

Our lab is part of the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity (CIRCA, circaok.com), an NIH Phase 2 CoBRE-funded research center. CIRCA endeavors to understand the the biological, cognitive, and socioemotional effects of early life stress with the aim of developing more effective interventions to disrupt the cycle of generational trauma and toxic stress. As a member of our lab, you will have access to CIRCA's robust research infrastructure that includes:
- A shared database including demographic, physical and mental health assessments,
  and expansive biomarker measurements
- Collaborations with experts in mental health, neuroscience, developmental
  psychology, immunology, and biostatistics
- Support from a Biological Systems Core, Recruitment Engagement Collection and
  Analysis Core, and Administrative Core
- Opportunity for funding of one-year pilot projects
Research Facilities

The Behavioral Immunology Lab of Tulsa (BILT)

Our lab is a 900 sqft BSL2 lab fully equipped with biosafety cabinets, -80C freezer storage, centrifuges, incubator, Agilent BioTek Synergy H1 Hybrid Multi-Mode Microplate Reader, microplate washer, Immunospot S6 Ultra M2, and other necessary lab equipment. Additional instruments are accessible through the CIRCA Biosystems Core laboratory, including flow cytometry (Cytek Aurora), electrochemiluminescence protein detection (MESO Quickplex SQ120), cell sorting (MoFlo XDP), pyrosequencing (Pyromark Q48), real time PCR (QuantStudio 12K Flex), and others.

The Hardesty Center for Clinical Research and Neuroimaging

The Hardesty Center is a 26,000 square foot research facility located in Tulsa along the Arkansas River just 4 miles south of the city’s Gathering Place riverfront park. The first floor of the Hardesty Center is primarily devoted to data collection and participant engagement, including the MRI facility, fluid-based biomarker processing and storage facility, clinical evaluation rooms, behavioral and neurocognitive testing rooms, and labs that support EEG, psychophysiology, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The second floor is primarily devoted to faculty, staff, and student office space.

Salary and Research Funding
- Starting at 61k, dependent on experience.
- 2 year commitment with opportunity for extension
- Lab funds will be available to start research projects and collect preliminary data. You
  will be expected to apply for external funding for extended projects.
- Funding opportunities through intramural and extramural agencies.
- Although a successful postdoc requires a lot of hard work, we do our best to maintain
  a flexible, low-stress work environment and respect work-life balance.
Commitment to Equal Opportunity

A central theme of our research is understanding the biological underpinnings of health disparities in under-served communities. Therefore we value collaboration with academics and researchers from all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, nationalities, neuro-diversities, abilities, religious beliefs, and age groups.