Postdoctoral Fellow (Grifoni Lab)

La Jolla Institute; California, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision benefits

Paid sick leave

403B retirement plan

Professional development opportunities

Access to cutting-edge facilities

Job summary

The La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join projects on immune responses to infection and vaccines. The Grifoni lab focuses on human and mouse T cell responses to infectious diseases and current or novel viral-based vaccines.

The ideal candidate will engage in translational research with strong mentorship and professional development, and benefit from LJI's collaborative environment and cutting-edge facilities in San Diego.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in immunology, virology, or bioinformatics.
• Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience in T cell immunology and/or virology.
• Proven track record of independent experimental design, optimization, and execution of cell culture, multi-color flow cytometry (10+ required, 20+ preferred), and FluoroSpot/ELISPOT assays.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to write scientific manuscripts.

Responsibilities

• Join projects related to immune responses to infection and vaccines.
• Contribute to translational research with applications in health care.
• Mentor and collaborate within a dedicated team of scientists.

Education

PhD or equivalent in immunology/virology/bioinformatics

Tools

Flow cytometry

FluoroSpot/ELISPOT

Job description

9420 Athena Cir, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA

Job Description

Posted Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 7:00 AM

The Grifoni lab is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join projects related to immune responses to infection and vaccines. Dr. Grifoni's lab focuses on human and mouse T cell responses to infectious diseases, particularly Coronaviruses, Enteroviruses, Orthomyxoviruses, Orthopoxviruses, Arenaviruses, and other emergent viral pathogens relevant to worldwide global health. The Grifoni lab work unravels T cell responses induced by infections and current or novel viral-based vaccines.

About the role

The ideal candidate would have an interest in translational research with applications in health care and will play a crucial role within a dedicated team of scientists and thrive in a supportive atmosphere that offers mentorship, nurtures talent, and promotes personal development and education. LJI is a globally recognized institution that offers outstanding perks and strong backing for its researchers.

List of relevant publications related to this position:

• Neto et al., Cell 2025; PMID: 40774254

Required Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in immunology, virology, or bioinformatics
• Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience in T cell immunology and/or virology during their training.
• Proven track record of independent experimental design, optimization, and execution of cell culture, multi-color flow cytometry (10+ required, 20+ preferred), and FluoroSpot/ELISPOT assays.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to write scientific manuscripts.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience with in vivo mouse models of viral infection
• Experience analyzing large-scale datasets (e.g., viral sequences, scRNAseq, TCRseq), including proficiency with computational methods and relevant statistical software.
• Salary commensurate with experience
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement
• Access to cutting-edge facilities and resources for research
• Supportive and inclusive work environment fostering growth and innovation
• Networking opportunities with professionals in the field of immunology

The La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) offers a collegial work environment that emphasizes collaboration, teamwork and creativity. Full-time employment at LJI includes a competitive salary, medical/dental/vision benefits, paid sick leave, and contributions to a retirement plan (403B). For the last decade, LJI has been ranked as one of the best places to work in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal. The Institute hosts world-renowned faculty and over 80 postdoctoral researchers with scientists from over 30 countries. LJI is located in the Science Research Park on the campus of UC San Diego, providing easy access to the San Diego life sciences community and all that the area has to offer.

LJI provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, disability status, genetics, medical conditions, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, reproductive health decisions, or pregnancy, or any other condition protected by state and local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placing, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfers, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs, recalls, transfers, leaves of absences, and social and recreational programs.

La Jolla Institute is committed to compensation that is externally competitive and internally equitable. We validate this commitment by conducting regular market analyses to remain competitive with organizations of similar size in the nonprofit, independent research sector. Compensation decisions consider a variety of factors including experience, education, unique skill sets, organizational need, and internal equity.

9420 Athena Cir, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA