Description
Our multidisciplinary laboratory integrates the knowledge and technology of immunology, chemical biology, molecular microbiology, bioinformatic analyses of gene, lipid, and metabolite profiles, and animal studies to discover metabolite and lipid compounds for unconventional T cell activation to fight infections and cancers. Our current projects focus on (i) identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis metabolites to activate mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, (ii) determining MAIT cell clones that elicit protective responses against tuberculosis, (iii) characterizing differential metabolite antigen presentation pathways for MAIT cell activation in bacterial infections, and (iv) identifying mammalian and microbial metabolites as T cell antigens or protein ligands to regulate immunity in infections, cancers, and inflammations. We value self-motivated research and carefully designed assays because these virtues will help build up confidence and experience in scientific life.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Generate and modify hypotheses based on literature and experimental results.
- Carefully design and pursue experiments to test hypotheses and troubleshoot the assays if failed.
- Summarized rationale, hypotheses, experimental design, results, conclusions, and future studies to present them to lab members and colleagues.
- Write abstracts, prepare posters/talks, and write manuscripts for conference presentations and journal publications.
- Maintaining an accurate and complete experimental record is the basis for the above activities.
- Development of grant writing skills is encouraged. Preparing or assisting in preparing grant and contract applications will be needed at later stages.
- Participate in seminars and scientific meetings appropriate to the fields of interest.
- Collaborate with other lab members and colleagues.
- Other relevant duties to complete research projects.
Qualifications
- A Research Scientist or postdoctoral Scientist in chemistry and chemical biology
- Responsible for performing metabolite profiling and identification using a new Orbitrap instrument and other bioassay-guided isolation protocols.
- Open to learning and exploring new areas of science, such as immunology knowledge and bioassays for functional tests.
- Highly motivated individuals who are self-desired to make major contributions to science.
- Be willing to work collaboratively with lab members and colleagues.
- Equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills.
