Postdoctoral Research Associate

Dr. Jian Xie’s laboratory in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), a nationally recognized institution ranked Tier 1 in Primary Care and Tier 2 in Research, is seeking an outstanding candidate for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position. The successful candidate will investigate the roles of cell surface RNAs and glycoRNAs in viral entry and infection, with a particular emphasis on oncogenic viruses such as human papillomavirus (HPV).

Although RNA was traditionally considered to be confined to the nucleus and cytoplasm, recent studies have revealed that a subset of RNAs is glycosylated and displayed on the cell surface (cell surface glycoRNAs) (

Cell

, 2021;

Cell

, 2024;

Nature

, 2026). These discoveries have further led to the unexpected finding that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are common components of the cell surface (

Cell

, 2025;

Nature Biotechnology

, 2025;

Molecular Cell

, 2025). Positioned at the interface between the cell and its environment, cell surface RNAs (csRNAs) and cell surface RNA-binding proteins (csRBPs) are strategically situated to regulate fundamental biological processes, including cell–cell communication, pathogen recognition, and receptor-mediated signaling. Emerging evidence suggests that these newly identified surface molecules form functional complexes with important roles in immune regulation and cancer biology (

Cell

, 2024;

Nature

, 2025). However, the mechanistic principles governing their functions during pathogen infection remain unknown. The Xie laboratory studies virus–host interactions in viral infection, cancer, and innate immunity (

PNAS

, 2026;

PNAS

, 2025;

Science Advances

, 2021;

Cell Reports

, 2020). Our recent work indicates that csRNAs and csRBPs are critical determinants of HPV infection and may constitute a previously unrecognized class of viral entry receptors. This research is supported by an NIH R35 award and is conducted through strong collaborations with leading laboratories at Yale University and Harvard University. The successful candidate will receive individualized, mentor-guided training and gain access to emerging concepts, experimental systems, and technologies developed by the laboratory and its collaborators. The candidate will design and conduct studies involving RNA and protein biochemistry, virology, cell biology, and molecular biology. Responsibilities will include experimental design; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; presentation of findings at institutional, regional, national, and international scientific meetings; preparation of manuscripts and grant applications; and mentoring of graduate students and other junior researchers, as appropriate. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, creative, collaborative, and intellectually independent, with a strong interest in developing innovative hypotheses and experimental approaches.