The Experimental Medicine Research Cluster (EMRC) and the Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center (OCRC) of the University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, offers 2 postdoctoral fellowship positions in projects associated with the Task Force UNICAMP Against COVID-19 (
http://www.ftcovid19.unicamp.br/index.html). These projects are meant to unveil The Risk Factors and Mechanisms Underlying the Higher Susceptibility of Elderly, Diabetic and Obese Individuals to Progress to the Severe Stage of COVID-19. OCRC is one of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (CEPIDs) supported by FAPESP (Sao Paulo Research Foundation) (
https://www.ocrc.org.br/). The EMRC is a newly formed cluster of scientists at Unicamp with the goal of helping providing interdisciplinary solutions to human diseases (
https://www.facebook.com/ExperimentalMedicine/).
A recent study that analyzed over 17 million individuals who were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 found that aging, age-related conditions such as immunosuppression and cancer, obesity and uncontrolled glucose levels are by far the most important predictors of mortality by COVID-19. We will recruit 2 postdoctoral fellows which will lead projects to: 1) understand why aging is a risk factor for COVID-19 and how drugs targeting senescence and age-related pathways may benefit patients or 2) determine why diabetes and obesity are risk factors for COVID-19 and also how metabolism of immune cells can be used as targets for the development of novel drugs for COVID-19 treatment.
Candidates must have completed their PhD; have experience in molecular biology, cell biology, and/or immunology and preferentially with knowledge in virology or other infectious diseases. Experience with flow cytometry or microscopy will be considered an asset. Previous experience working in a BSL-3 or at least BSL-2 facility is important. We also expect candidates to work in a multidisciplinary environment and be collaborative.
One of projects will be led by Prof. Dr. Marcelo A. Mori under the FAPESP grant 2020/04919-2 (
https://bv.fapesp.br/en/auxilios/106212/determining-molecular-candidates-that-contribute-to-the-higher-risk-of-covid-19-in-aged-individuals/) and the other by Prof. Dr. Pedro M. Vieira under the FAPESP grant 2020/04579-7 (
https://bv.fapesp.br/en/auxilios/106215/study-of-the-risk-factors-associated-with-greater-severity-to-covid-19-and-mapping-of-the-metabolic/). The fellowships will be funded by FAPESP under the respective project budgets and have a timetable of 24 months, scheduled to begin as soon as possible. For more information about FAPESP’s postdoctoral fellowship program, please see
http://www.fapesp.br/en/postdoc.
Applications are due on June 10, 2020 at
[email protected] (Subject: Postdoctoral fellowship application at EMRC). Applicants are requested to send the following documents:
a) Statement of interest, describing the reasons for your interest in this position and the main lab techniques that you are skilled in;
b) Two recommendation letters;
c) Short summary of your PhD thesis;
d) Short CV.
NOTE: Additional Salary Information: R$ 7.373,10 Brazilian reais per month.
