Postdoctoral Position: Red Blood Cell Immunobiology
- University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Jan 17, 2026
Job Description
Postdoctoral Position: Red Blood Cell Immunobiology
Location: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Open Date: Jan 05, 2026
Deadline:
Description
The Mangalmurti Laboratory invites applications for a postdoctoral position examining red blood cells (RBCs) as previously unrecognized regulators of innate immunity. The laboratory focuses on how RBCs participate in nucleic acid sensing, immune homeostasis, and inflammatory disease, with a long-term goal of translating fundamental red blood cell immune functions into clinically relevant applications.
The lab made the seminal discovery that red blood cells express the nucleic acid-sensing receptor TLR9 and actively sequester cell-free DNA, redefining RBCs as active participants in innate immune regulation. Ongoing work integrates mechanistic in vitro systems, organ-on-a-chip platforms, clinical specimens from critically ill patients, and erythroid-specific PRR-deficient mouse models to interrogate how RBC immune sensing shapes host responses during inflammation and infection.
Two NIH-funded postdoctoral projects are available. One focuses on extracellular RNA sensing by RBCs and its impact on systemic immune responses during sepsis. The second examines how RBC-TLR9-mediated DNA sensing and delivery contributes to host heterogeneity in sepsis and pneumonia.
Training Environment and Mentorship
Postdoctoral fellows receive close mentorship with an emphasis on developing scientific independence, rigorous experimental design, and career development. Trainees are encouraged and supported to pursue their own research directions, obtain independent funding, and engage in interdisciplinary collaborations spanning immunology, hematology, bioengineering, and clinical investigation. The laboratory is embedded within a strong research environment with access to outstanding core facilities and institutional career development resources.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. in immunology, microbiology, or a related field and should be highly motivated and enthusiastic about contributing to the emerging field of red blood cell immunobiology and its potential disease applications. Individuals requiring visa sponsorship are welcome to apply.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit the following materials:
A cover letter describing research interests, relevant experience, and career goals
A curriculum vitae (CV)
Contact information for three references- A research statement
To apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/179179
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
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When inquiring or applying for positions within the University of Pennsylvania, please also reference AcademicCareers.com
Applicants with dual-career considerations can find university jobs such as professor jobs, dean jobs, chair / department head jobs, and other faculty jobs and professional and administrative staff employment opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania and at other institutions of higher education in the region on www.AcademicCareers.com
To receive email alerts when new jobs at the University of Pennsylvania are posted, job seekers can sign up at new job openings at the University of Pennsylvania.
