Post Doc Res Assoc

The Round Laboratory at the University of Utah investigates the complex interactions between the intestinal microbiota and the host immune system, with the goal of understanding how these relationships establish and maintain health and how their disruption contributes to disease. Our research spans basic and translational immunology and microbiome science, with particular interests in how bacteria and bacteriophages shape mucosal and systemic immune responses. We use gnotobiotic and conventional mouse models, microbial genetics, immunologic approaches, and human samples to uncover mechanisms by which members of the microbiota influence immune development, function, and disease susceptibility. A central theme of our work is moving beyond descriptive changes in microbial communities to identify specific microbes, microbial products, and immune pathways that causally regulate host physiology.

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow interested in pursuing one of two major research directions. The first focuses on early-life microbiota–immune interactions and their impact on the development of type 1 diabetes, including how microbial exposures during critical developmental windows shape immune maturation and influence later disease susceptibility. The second focuses on bacteriophage–immune interactions in intestinal homeostasis and inflammatory disease, with an emphasis on understanding how phage and phage-derived antigens are recognized by the immune system and how these responses influence bacterial communities, mucosal immunity, and intestinal inflammation. Both projects offer opportunities to combine mechanistic immunology with microbiome biology and to develop independent research directions at the interface of microbial ecology, host immunity, and disease. Check out our website at https://round.path.utah.edu/

Huntsman Cancer Institute is committed to cancer prevention, care, and survivorship for all communities within the area we serve – which includes Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming – with impact worldwide.

In your cover letter or during your interview process, we invite you to share how your professional experiences have prepared you to serve as a member of our team as we work to reduce the cancer burden experienced by all people and communities. This may include description of your prior experiences related to research, prevention, clinical care, community engagement/outreach, training, administration, or other areas relevant to Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission and this position.