Postdoctoral Research Associate
Benaroya Research Institute
Summary
The Long Lab within the Center for Translational Immunology at Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) is seeking a creative and highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate the immune mechanisms that drive type 1 diabetes (T1D) and other autoimmune diseases. The Lab combines advanced human immunology, single-cell and multi-modal technologies, and systems immunology approaches to better understand disease progression, patient variability, and response to therapy.
Job description
This position provides a unique opportunity to study immune regulation and autoreactive T cells during the earliest stages of T1D using cross-sectional, longitudinal, and clinical trial samples. The successful candidate will lead independent cellular and molecular research while working alongside experts in immunology, bioinformatics, and translational medicine. This position is a mentored training opportunity designed to prepare early-career scientists for independent research careers through close collaboration, scientific mentorship, and professional development. The position will provide exposure to independent projects, as well as experience working with large trial consortia and multi-PI projects.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement independent or semi-independent research projects focused on human autoimmune disease.
- Design and perform experiments to identify autoreactive B and T cells for downstream transcriptional, single-cell, and multi-modal analyses.
- Analyze, interpret, and document experimental results using appropriate statistical and computational methods.
- Use AI and collaborate with the BRI Bioinformatics team to integrate systems immunology and computational analyses into research projects.
- Conduct literature reviews and remain current with advances in immunology and autoimmune disease research.
- Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and present research findings at scientific meetings.
- Contribute to fellowship applications, grant proposals, and collaborative research initiatives.
- Collaborate with investigators across BRI, the University of Washington, TrialNet, and other research partners.
- Provide informal supervision and scientific guidance to research technicians and students as appropriate.
- Participate in weekly Lab meetings, institute seminars, and scientific conferences.
- Foster a collaborative, respectful, and intellectually curious research environment that values innovation, teamwork, and scientific rigor.
Qualifications
Required
- Ph.D. in Immunology or a related biomedical science.
- Experience with tissue culture and cellular and molecular biology techniques.
- Demonstrated technical proficiency, scientific creativity, collaboration, and independent thinking.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to independently design experiments while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.
Preferred
- Experience in human immunology, autoimmune disease, or type 1 diabetes research.
- Experience with flow or spectral cytometry, single-cell technologies, and large-scale biological datasets.
- Interest in systems immunology and willingness to develop computational analysis skills.
- Experience working with human clinical samples and translational research.
- Publication record demonstrating scientific productivity.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Immunology or a related biomedical science.
- Experience with tissue culture and cellular and molecular biology techniques.
- Demonstrated technical proficiency, scientific creativity, collaboration, and independent thinking.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to independently design experiments while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.
- Experience in human immunology, autoimmune disease, or type 1 diabetes research.
- Experience with flow or spectral cytometry, single-cell technologies, and large-scale biological datasets.
- Interest in systems immunology and willingness to develop computational analysis skills.
- Experience working with human clinical samples and translational research.
- Publication record demonstrating scientific productivity.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Short & Long-Term Disability
- Life & AD&D Insurance
- 403(b) Retirement Plan
- Paid Holidays
- Vacation Leave
- Sick Leave
- Employee Assistance Program
- Educational Assistance Program
- Subsidized ORCA Pass
- Wellness Benefits
- Voluntary Benefits
Company overview
Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) is a premier non-profit biomedical research organization founded in 1956 and based in Seattle, Washington. As an affiliate of Virginia Mason Health System, BRI specializes in cutting-edge research focused on the immune system and autoimmune diseases. The institute conducts comprehensive basic, clinical, and translational research aimed at understanding immune cell function and dysfunction, with particular emphasis on conditions such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and allergies. BRI maintains extensive biorepositories containing over 350,000 samples from more than 16,000 participants, supporting both internal research and global scientific collaborations. The institute has made groundbreaking contributions including the development of MHC Class II tetramers for immune cell research, discovery of the Th2A allergy cell, and playing a key role in the development of teplizumab - the first drug to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes. With a mission to predict, prevent, reverse, and cure immune system diseases, BRI operates through multiple core laboratories and leads major research consortia including the Immune Tolerance Network, positioning itself as a global leader in immunology research and therapeutic development.