Two Postdoctoral Fellowships on Mathematical Immunology

[Osman Y]

MATHEMATICAL IMMUNOLOGIST

OAK RIDGE INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND EDUCATION (ORISE), SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND

Position Description:

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis, and this opportunity will remain open until a qualified candidate is identified.

 

Two research opportunities are currently available in the Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OBE) at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

 

The selected participant will be involved in the development of quantitative models to simulate and predict human immune responses to biologics such as vaccines and cancer immunotherapies. The end goal of this project is the development of computational tools to enhance efficacy and safety evaluation of vaccines, current and next-generation of engineered therapeutic products, leading to personalized and optimal treatment regimens for patients. Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will develop and apply novel techniques to model and simulate interactive cellular and molecular components of human immune system. The activities include literature reviews, data collection/curation, model development, presentation of research results, and preparation of scientific manuscripts.

 

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: December 2021; start date is flexible

 

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and FDA. The initial appointment is for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of FDA contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at FDA in the Silver Spring, Maryland, area. Participants do not become employees of FDA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.

 

Qualifications:

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing the degree with completion by June 1, 2022. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

 

Preferred skills/experience:

·         Knowledge of immunology, mathematical/statistical modeling and programming skills

·         Experience with differential equations

·         Excellent written and oral communication skills

·         Solid background and skills in biology and computing science

To Apply:

Apply at: https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/FDA-CBER-2021-0041

A complete application consists of:

·         An application
·         Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation. Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
·         A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
·         One educational or professional recommendation

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

 

If you have questions, send an email to ORISE.F...@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity (FDA-CBER-2021-0041) in your email.

 

Representative Manuscripts:

Huang, Yin, et al. "Assessment of risk of variant creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (vCJD) from use of bovine heparin." Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety 29.5 (2020): 575-581.

Nukala, Ujwani, et al. "A Systematic Review of the Efforts and Hindrances of Modeling and Simulation of CAR T-cell Therapy." The AAPS Journal 23.3 (2021): 1-20.

Yogurtcu, Osman N., et al. "A Quantitative Evaluation of COVID-19 Epidemiological Models." medRxiv (2021).

Messan, Marisabel Rodriguez, et al. "Mathematical Model of a Personalized Neoantigen Cancer Vaccine and the Human Immune System: Evaluation of Efficacy." PLoS Comp Bio (2021).

Yogurtcu, Osman N., et al. "TCPro: an in Silico risk assessment tool for biotherapeutic protein immunogenicity." The AAPS journal 21.5 (2019): 1-12. 

McGill, Joseph R., et al. "SampPick: Selection of a cohort of subjects matching a population HLA distribution." Frontiers in immunology 10 (2019): 2894.