Postdoctoral Position in Pulmonary - Belperio Lab 2026-2027

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA seeks a postdoctoral fellow to join the lab of Dr. John Belperio in NIH-funded research on lung transplantation and immune responses.

The candidate will analyze high-throughput sequencing data (RNA-seq, ssRNA-seq, methylomics) and perform immunology experiments in murine and human samples, aiming to uncover pathways of fibrosis, emphysema, and rejection.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.D. or equivalent; US citizenship or permanent residency.
• Strong background in biostatistics and bioinformatics.
• Experience with high-throughput sequencing and immunology techniques.

Responsibilities

• Analyze bulk RNAseq, ssRNAseq, citi seq, TCR, methylomics, microbiome, snRNAseq, proteomics data.
• Work with mice models and human samples to discover pathways for fibrosis and rejection.
• Contribute to in vivo and in vitro experiments at the interface of immunology and cell biology.
• Use R programming for data analysis and visualization.

Skills

biostatistics

immunology

mouse models

bioinformatics

R programming

Education

PhD or MD

Tools

RNA sequencing

methylomics

proteomics

flow cytometry

Luminex

Job description

We are seeking applications from qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of Dr. John Belperio, an NIH-funded laboratory within the UCLA Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine.

We are looking for an M.D. or Ph.D. with a biostatistical background to work on bulk RNAseq, ssRNAseq, citi seq, TCR, methylomics, microbiome, snRNAseq, and proteomics to perform analyses via vertical platforms for predicting lung transplant allograft injuries and chronic rejection. The candidate will also have an immunology background to work with mice models and human samples for the discovery of pathways that lead to fibrosis, emphysema, or granulomas.

Our research program focuses on lung transplant with the goal of inducing murine tolerance via hematopoietic mixed chimerism without radiation in the heterotopic tracheal transplant model of murine obliterative bronchiolitis and or the orthotopic lung transplant model. This would be work dealing with naive and allo-sensitized mice. We also study pathways of acute rejection via endothelial and epithelia cell rejection and pathways of chronic rejection/fibrosis. Our program also focuses on pulmonary fibrosis with the goal of discovering novel pathways using explanted lung tissues and performing proof of concept studies using the murine bleomycin model of lung fibrosis. We also study COPD with the goal of discovering novel pathways using explanted lung tissues and performing proof of concept studies using the porcine elastase model of emphysema. Our program also focuses on Sarcoidosis, discovering novel pathways using explanted lung tissues and inducing non-necrotizing lung granuloma in mice.

Work will include using explanted human lung, lymph node tissue, bronchioalveolar lavage cells and fluid, and plasma/sera/PBMCs for ssRNAseq, proteomics, microbiome, flow cytometry, transcriptomics and methyomics. Similar studies will be performed with transgenic mice with the addition of adoptive transfer experiments and recall assays.

Typical techniques used include immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, multiplex immunofluorencences, flow cytometry, Luminex multiplexing protein concentrations, snRNAseq and ssRNAseq. We also perform adoptive transfer studies and recall response assays. R-programing is preferred. The position will involve conducting experiments in our immunology and cell/molecular biology in the lab. Experience with conditional knockout mouse models, primary epithelial cell lines, flow cytometry, ELISA, protein and DNA-based molecular biology, biochemistry, cell/tissue culture, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, and DNA/RNA sequencing, ssRNAseq, flow cytometry is preferred.

The projects involve both in vitro and in vivo experimentation at the intersection of immunology, cell biology, and bioinformatics. Experience with standard cellular biology techniques and working with murine in vivo models is preferred but not required. Experience in bioinformatics is preferred.

This is an NIH Postdoctoral Training Fellowship, and candidates must have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent and US citizenship or permanent residency.

Please read more about this important DGSOM program at Cultural North Star.

A Ph.D. in biomedical sciences or an M.D. is required. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required.