Positions Available

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS

Post-doctoral position is available immediately, to new Ph.D. graduates or candidates with less than 2 years of postdoctoral experience, in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey at Newark, New Jersey to study molecular basis of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is the most prevalent arthropod-borne, multisystemic illness in the USA.  It affects skin, joints, heart and nervous system.  Interestingly, C3H mice provide a very good animal model to study manifestations of Lyme disease.

I am a faculty at UMDNJ and my projects involve work on two bacterial pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Lyme disease causing spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.  The current post-doctoral position is for the projects involving B. burgdorferi.  The interested candidates should be prepared to work hard to help me to achieve my goal of publishing quality papers and obtaining additional NIH funding soon.  My laboratory has most facilities required for the projects.  In addition, department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics is located in a newer building and has excellent core facilities.  The projects will provide an opportunity to the candidate to develop and implement new ideas to study Lyme pathogenesis.  I will personally provide training to the selected candidate initially to familiarize this interesting but challenging field of bacterial pathogenesis.

Research Projects involve: Examination of the contribution of B. burgdorferi ligands in attachment to mammalian host cells in vitro, identification of the cognate host receptor and study the role of this interaction in tissue tropism during murine model of infection; immunological response to host-induced bacterial molecules, generation of specific mutants in B. burgdorferi and study their impact on Lyme pathogenesis and on manifestation of the disease in the mouse model, and evaluation of novel drugs against the molecular targets of this spirochete.

UMDNJ-Newark is at an easily commutable distance from different towns of New Jersey as well as from Manhattan, New York by subway and/or by bus.

Applicants should possess a doctoral degree and have experience in immunology, microbial pathogenesis and/or molecular biology disciplines.  Candidate, who is not allergic to animals and has laboratory experience with animals, is preferred.  Suitable applicants from the USA will be invited to present his/her work in the department.  Curriculum Vitae and names and addresses of three references should be sent by e-mail.
My contact address is:

Nikhat Parveen
225 Warren St. Room No. E350T
DMMG, ICPH Building
Newark, NJ 07103
e-mail: parveeni@umdnj.edu
Ph. No. 973-972-4483 Extn. 25218