Postdoctoral Research Associate in Modeling Infection and Immune Response Dynamics - Military Veterans

What You Will Do

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in science and engineering on behalf of national security. You will work within the Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, a world-leading team in modeling within-host infectious diseases and immune responses. In this position, you will pursue research in mathematical and theoretical biology, with emphasis on problems in viral dynamics and immune system modeling. Our interests span a wide range from basic immunology, cell and molecular biology, treatment of viral infections to transmission dynamics. We develop models in collaboration with experimental scientists that generate new insights into the dynamics of viral infections, the immune response and virus-immune system interactions. We have standing collaborations with many experimental immunologists and clinicians, and help them develop new experiments, interpret their data and generate new hypotheses about the biology. Much of our current work and available data involves HIV/SIV infection, hepatitis B, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection although we also have projects involving other viruses such as hepatitis C, Zika virus and hemorrhagic fever viruses.

Team members will support and enrich your research and professional goals through their outstanding breadth and depth of expertise in their respective fields. Indeed, we work as a team with strong interactions between all of us and postdoctoral researchers. Our vibrant team of researchers is diverse across many spectrums and we welcome people who are excited to work in a team environment to help solve pressing problems in infection and health. A self-motivated, creative postdoc will find this environment conducive to intellectual and professional growth.

What You Need

We are looking for enthusiastic scientists with mathematical, statistical and/or machine learning skills, and a strong interest in viral dynamics and/or immunology. Preference will be given to candidates with research experience in the core areas of research mentioned above; a track record of publications; and commitment to work to the high LANL standards, including attending required training. The candidate should have good programming skills, good working knowledge of one or more mathematical or statistical packages (e.g., Mathematica, Matlab, R, Monolix, ...) and excellent English (both written and oral).

Minimum Job Requirements:

• An ability to work and communicate effectively in a diverse team environment
• Experience with mathematical/statistical modeling

Education: A PhD earned no more than five years ago in a related field. The specific subject of one's PhD degree is not restrictive, but usually a PhD in applied mathematics, physics, statistics, computer or computational science, or mathematical biology is appropriate.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience one or more mathematical or statistical packages (e.g., Mathematica, Matlab, R, Monolix, ...)
• Skills in a programming language
• Publications in refereed journals and a history of successful research in collaborative team environments
• Experience developing multi-scale models and/or in uncertainty quantification and data fitting
• Exposure to viral dynamics or immunology modeling
• Familiarity working with "big" datasets and working knowledge of machine learning tools

Location: This position will be located in Los Alamos, NM.
Note to Applicants:

For initial consideration for this position and more details about the scientific areas of research, send an e-mail including your CV and brief statement of interest to any of us, Alan Perelson (asp@lanl.gov), Ruy Ribeiro (ruy@lanl.gov), Carmen Molina-Paris (molina-paris@lanl.gov) and Ruian Ke (rke@lanl.gov). We will only reply to those candidates whose applications we are interested in pursuing further. After initial screening, transcripts and 3-4 letters of recommendation may be requested, followed by an interview. Applications will be reviewed as received, and we hope to fill the positions as soon as possible. Additional questions may be included in your email. Be sure to also officially apply via the link on this page.

Candidates may be considered for a Director's Fellowship and outstanding candidates may be considered for the prestigious Marie Curie, Richard P. Feynman, or J. Robert Oppenheimer fellowships. For general information related to the Postdoc Program, salary, and benefits, go to: http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/index.php.

The position will ultimately require relocation to the Los Alamos/Santa Fe area. Los Alamos and Santa Fe offer a unique blend of cultural, outdoor, and historical activities. See https://livability.com/nm/los-alamos/experiences-adventures/8-reasons-to-move-to-los-alamos-nm and https://www.lanl.gov/community/visitors/living-in-los-alamos.php for more info.
Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

§ PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network

§ Dental and vision insurance

§ Free basic life and disability insurance

§ Paid childbirth and parental leave

§ Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)

§ Learning opportunities and tuition assistance

§ Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)

§ Onsite gyms and wellness programs

§ Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)
Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.
Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-Employment Drug Test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.
Equal Opportunity: Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.Employment StatusFull Time