Overview

The Long Lab within the Center for Translational Immunology at Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) is seeking a creative and highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate the immune mechanisms that drive type 1 diabetes (T1D) and other autoimmune diseases. The Lab combines advanced human immunology, single-cell and multi-modal technologies, and systems immunology approaches to better understand disease progression, patient variability, and response to therapy.

This position provides a unique opportunity to study immune regulation and autoreactive T cells during the earliest stages of T1D using cross-sectional, longitudinal, and clinical trial samples. The successful candidate will lead independent cellular and molecular research while working alongside experts in immunology, bioinformatics, and translational medicine. This position is a mentored training opportunity designed to prepare early-career scientists for independent research careers through close collaboration, scientific mentorship, and professional development. The position will provide exposure to independent projects, as well as experience working with large trial consortia and multi-PI projects.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement independent or semi-independent research projects focused on human autoimmune disease.
• Design and perform experiments to identify autoreactive B and T cells for downstream transcriptional, single-cell, and multi-modal analyses.
• Analyze, interpret, and document experimental results using appropriate statistical and computational methods.
• Use AI and collaborate with the BRI Bioinformatics team to integrate systems immunology and computational analyses into research projects.
• Conduct literature reviews and remain current with advances in immunology and autoimmune disease research.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and present research findings at scientific meetings.
• Contribute to fellowship applications, grant proposals, and collaborative research initiatives.
• Collaborate with investigators across BRI, the University of Washington, TrialNet, and other research partners.
• Provide informal supervision and scientific guidance to research technicians and students as appropriate.
• Participate in weekly Lab meetings, institute seminars, and scientific conferences.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and intellectually curious research environment that values innovation, teamwork, and scientific rigor.

Qualifications

Required

• Ph.D. in Immunology or a related biomedical science.
• Experience with tissue culture and cellular and molecular biology techniques.
• Demonstrated technical proficiency, scientific creativity, collaboration, and independent thinking.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to independently design experiments while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.

Preferred

• Experience in human immunology, autoimmune disease, or type 1 diabetes research.
• Experience with flow or spectral cytometry, single-cell technologies, and large-scale biological datasets.
• Interest in systems immunology and willingness to develop computational analysis skills.
• Experience working with human clinical samples and translational research.
• Publication record demonstrating scientific productivity.

Compensation

$80,182 - $83,000 per year; depending on years of postdoctoral experience.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts: health care, dependent care, commuter
• Short and long-term disability
• Life and AD&D insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with matching funds after one year of employment
• 13 holidays, 3 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks of sick leave per year
• Employee assistance program
• Educational assistance program
• Subsidized ORCA pass
• Wellness benefits
• Voluntary benefits