Our laboratory is focused on providing an outstanding training and mentoring environment to facilitate development of young scientists into productive and independent investigators.

Two post-doctoral positions are available to study:

1. The molecular mechanism by which intestinal microflora interact with gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) to promote GALT development and somatic diversification of Ig genes. We use a ligated appendix model in which specific microbiota or products, thereof, are injected into a sterile appendix and GALT development is assessed by immunohistology. We are also interested in the role of TLR engagement, cell-cell interactions, chemokines and cytokines in GALT development after exposure to intestinal microbiota.
     

2. The mechanism by which B cell development is arrested and how B cell immunity is maintained throughout life in the absence of ongoing B lymphopoiesis. We have identified several extracellular matrix molecules that are differentially expressed in bone marrow of young and adult rabbits and we are testing if changes in the expression level of these molecules contribute to the decline in B lymphopoiesis.
      

3. Reconstitution of TCR and BCR repertoires in adult cancer patients who receive transplants of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from umbilical cord blood. In collaboration with Dr. Phong Le, we differentiate and expand HSCs in vitro and then use these in a SCID mouse model to determine if we can facilitate reconstitution of normal, protective, TCR and BCR repertoires.

Please send curriculum vita, letter of interest, and 3 letters of recommendation to: