Postdoctoral Fellow

The Watson Lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is seeking a motivated postdoctoral fellow to investigate how mitochondrial homeostasis shapes macrophage immune responses and the outcome of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Department Medicine: Infectious Disease Full Description The Watson Lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is seeking a motivated postdoctoral fellow to investigate how mitochondrial homeostasis shapes macrophage immune responses and the outcome of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Our work examines the host-pathogen interface at the point where bacterial virulence, mitochondrial function, and inflammatory signaling converge. We are particularly interested in how M. tuberculosis access to the host-cell cytosol disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis and how these changes alter macrophage metabolism, cell-intrinsic defense pathways, inflammation, and bacterial pathogenesis. Our studies combine primary macrophage and mouse infection models with cell biology, immunology, bacterial genetics, biochemistry, and systems-level approaches. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop an independent, interdisciplinary project focused on questions such as: How do mitochondrial stress and metabolic remodeling regulate macrophage activation during intracellular bacterial infection? How does mitochondrial dysfunction influence inflammatory signaling, innate immune cell death pathways, and antimicrobial control? Which host pathways connect M. tuberculosis cytosolic access with altered mitochondrial homeostasis? How do inherited or experimentally induced defects in mitochondrial maintenance affect susceptibility to infection and immunopathology ex vivo and in vivo? Can mitochondrial pathways be leveraged as host-directed therapeutic targets to improve infection outcomes? Environment The Watson Lab is jointly led with the Patrick Lab, which investigates RNA-binding proteins and post-transcriptional regulation of innate immune gene expression in macrophages. This collaborative environment offers opportunities to integrate mitochondrial biology with RNA regulation, host-pathogen interactions, and advanced infection models. We welcome applicants with a PhD and a strong interest in macrophage biology, immunometabolism, mitochondrial biology, microbial pathogenesis, or related fields. Experience in molecular/cellular biology, immunology, bacterial infection models, mouse studies, genomics, or quantitative systems biology is desirable but not required. #J-18808-Ljbffr Vanderbilt Medical Group