Scripps Staff Scientist - Martins Lab

Classification: Scripps Staff Scientist

About the role

The Martins lab at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology is seeking a Staff Scientist. Our research focuses on developing a “one-shot” functional cure for HIV/AIDS by leveraging gene therapy to engineer long-lived host cells to continuously produce HIV-1 IgG therapeutics in vivo. This approach aims to prevent viral replication without antiretroviral therapy (ART). Using nonhuman primates as a preclinical model, we have demonstrated that a single dose of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors can achieve stable expression of HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) for years. This systemic immunity has shown promise in blocking simian-HIV (SHIV) infection in mucosal challenge models and preventing virus rebound following ART interruption in SHIV-infected macaques.

A key challenge is host immune responses to AAV-expressed bNAbs, which can restrict expression and lead to treatment failure. While these anti-drug antibody (ADA) responses are rare in newborn macaques, they frequently occur in adults, including humans. Our lab is investigating why some animals develop ADAs while others do not, with the goal of devising strategies to suppress these unwanted immune responses.

Responsibilities

• Project management, including meetings, bookkeeping, and purchasing reagents and supplies
• Grant and manuscript writing
• Cloning, cell culture, ELISAs, protein expression and purification, and data analysis and interpretation

Requirements

• Ph.D. and/or MD in an appropriate scientific discipline (required)
• Minimum of 2 years postdoctoral experience
• Ph.D. in immunology, virology, or a related discipline
• Evidence of productivity from publications in high-quality journals (or manuscripts accepted for publication)
• Significant expertise in the design and production of gene therapy vectors
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English, with good organizational and analytical abilities
• Strong managerial and organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Immunological techniques, including flow cytometry, ELISA, immunofluorescence, RNA/DNA scope
• Molecular biology assays, such as qPCR and advanced cloning
• Experience with preclinical models of HIV/AIDS
• Next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics

Health assessment required: Yes.