Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the role

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 driving 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. This collaborative 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 mentored training opportunity is designed to prepare early-career scientists for independent research careers through close collaboration, scientific mentorship, and professional development. The role offers 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.

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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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, and vision insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts: health care, dependent care, commuter.
• Short- and long-term disability.
• Life and AD&D insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan with matching funds after one year of employment.
• 13 holidays, 3 weeks of vacation, and 2 weeks of sick leave per year.
• Employee assistance program.
• Educational assistance program.
• Subsidized ORCA pass.
• Wellness benefits.
• Voluntary benefits.

Pay

$80,182 - $83,000 per year, depending on years of postdoctoral experience.

About Us

Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) has a bold mission: to advance the science to predict, prevent, reverse, and cure immune system diseases, from autoimmune disease to cancer to asthma and allergies. We create detailed pictures of the immune system in health and disease, aiming to understand how disorders start and how to rebalance the immune system back to health. Equipped with innovative tools and robust biorepositories, our team chips away at the biggest mysteries behind these conditions to work toward our vision of a healthy immune system for everyone.

BRI is a nonprofit research institute based in Seattle and affiliated with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. We collaborate with clinicians and patients to accelerate the path from innovative lab discoveries to life-changing patient care. At BRI, each individual is valued as an important contributor to our vision and mission.