The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) is an independent, not-for-profit, biomedical research institute adjacent to the campus of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) located in Oklahoma City. OMRF investigators have internationally recognized expertise in Autoimmunity, Immunology, Genetics, Aging, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer. Our Autoimmune Disease Institute houses Centers of Excellence and specialty research clinics for Rheumatic Diseases (focusing on Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, UCTD, and Sjogren’s) and for Multiple Sclerosis and related diseases. In addition to following over 4,000 patients with these conditions, teams of basic and clinical investigators conduct extensive clinical, translational and mechanistic research using samples obtained from these large clinical programs. Investigators at OMRF enjoy close scientific interactions with OUHSC faculty and participate in OUHSC graduate programs. Additional information about OMRF can be found at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation web site: www.omrf.org 

Join our expanding team focused on newly funded research in autoimmune disease models of disease associated genetic variants. Dr. Joel Guthridge is seeking a Post-Doctoral Fellow with a strong molecular immunology/genetics background to be part of the team working to understand functional effects of lupus associated genetic variants, leveraging extensive resources and data available from our well characterized clinical cohorts and repository. The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic team with synergistic skills and experiences and will be given the opportunity to develop projects that complement the overall directions of the group. The team utilizes high throughput bimolecular assays, deep cellular phenotyping, single cell genomic, proteomic, chromatin conformation/epigenetic and computational and bioinformatics analyses and advanced somatic cell genome modifications with CRISPR technologies in induced pluripotent cells to develop and test human cell models of human disease. Our Human Phenotyping and Translational Informatics Cores which are supported through NIH P30 and U19 mechanisms are available as well as there is access to high performance computational resources both in-house and through cloud-based resources. 

This is a mentored position for postdoctoral training. Individuals at this level plan, design and conduct research experiments; manage research projects; prepare reports and papers for publication, presentation and future research; contribute to grant writing and are encouraged to write applications for fellowships; learn the complexities of research lab management and participate in various lab management activities. 

Benchmark Expectations:

• Conduct scientific research
• Manage research projects
• Present scientific information both formally and informally
• Prepare papers for publication
• Contribute to grant writing
• Perform lab management responsibilities as assigned
• Work collaboratively and collegially as part of the team while developing skills needed as an independent scientist.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of the principles and practices of scientific theory and research; demonstrates skill in formulating and testing hypotheses; demonstrates ability to conduct scientific research analysis and summarize data and results; writes technical, scientific papers; writes grants and communicates effectively both orally and in writing; mentor students; provides analytic support and input to other projects in the group and guides/directs the work of less senior scientists. 

Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in a biological science, chemistry, physics or other relevant area, M.D., or equivalent 

Minimum Degree Required: Doctorate 

Preferred Qualifications: Doctorate in Immunology, Genetics, Developmental Biology, Biochemistry, Clinical Science, or related field. 

Publication of at least 2-3 peer-reviewed publications. Experience planning and efficiently executing mechanistic studies in human model systems. Great communication skills needed. Must be efficient with time and project management, with a strong organizational ability with exquisite attention to detail. Must have the ability to multi-task and work both independently and as a member of an interdisciplinary team with complementary skill sets. 

Very strong immunology, preferably with human immunology/clinical immunology experience and/or extensive experience in developmental immunology and stem cell/induced pluripotent cell culture techniques as applies to use as human model systems of disease. Evidence of applied analysis experience of immune and genetic data is desired, in particular experience with next generation sequencing, single cell technologies for transcriptomics and chromatin conformation/epigenetics, high dimensional flow cytometry (or other forms of cytometric analyses), cellular immunology, autoimmunity and/or human immunology. Exposure to human biomedical, genetic and/or clinical research preferred. Demonstrated basic computer (UNIX, R or similar statistical package) helpful. Experience with univariate and multivariate analyses, clustering, pathway, genetic and genomic data analyses and bioinformatics is helpful.