Postdoctoral Fellow - Microbiome & Mucosal/Hepatic Immunology in PSC

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive cholestatic liver disease that, more often than not, travels with inflammatory bowel disease, and still has no approved therapy that changes its course . That clinical gap is also a scientific opportunity: few diseases offer a clearer window into how the gut microbiome and its metabolites shape host immunity across two organs at once.

The Awoniyi Laboratory works at that gut-liver interface. Using germ-free and gnotobiotic mouse models, defined bacterial communities, and multidimensional immune and metabolomic profiling, we connect specific microbes and metabolites to intestinal and hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer risk. Our recent work, including two first-author studies in Gut and a PSC-IBD mouse model built in this lab, has defined protective commensals and short-chain fatty acids that restrain hepatobiliary injury, and the pathobionts and dysbiotic communities that drive colitis, fibrosis, and colitis-associated cancer. The long-term aim is to turn these mechanisms into therapies for diseases that today have almost none.

We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow to lead a defined, funded line of investigation at the intersection of mucosal and hepatic immunology and microbial metabolism. This is an ideal first postdoc for a scientist finishing, or recently finished with, a PhD who wants to own a project end to end, from hypothesis and design through first-author publication, while being mentored deliberately toward independence. You will dissect how microbial metabolites reprogram intestinal and liver immune responses, contribute directly to grant-supported projects, and build a body of work that positions you for an F32, a K99/R00, and a faculty search. Specific project directions are shared with shortlisted candidates.

This is a hands-on, wet-bench basic-science position centered on immune cells, tissues, microbes, metabolites, and mouse models ; not a clinical-research, clinical-trials, or coordinator role. A PhD or MD/PhD in a relevant laboratory discipline is required.

What you’ll do: 

• Lead a focused project within the lab’s funded program, from hypothesis and design through analysis, publication, and grant contributions
• Apply and extend immunologic approaches (multiparameter flow cytometry and sorting, immune-cell isolation and functional assays, tissue immunostaining, targeted gene-expression profiling) across intestinal and hepatic compartments
• Integrate microbial and metabolomic readouts with host immune phenotypes, using germ-free and gnotobiotic models and defined bacterial communities
• Analyze and interpret complex datasets, present at national meetings, and write first-author manuscripts Help mentor junior trainees and strengthen a rigorous, collegial lab culture

Who you are:

• Hold, or will within ~6 months, a PhD or MD/PhD in immunology, microbiology, microbiome science, metabolomics, molecular or cell biology, or a closely related field
• A strong research record, including at least one first-author publication (published or in press) Depth in one or more of: mucosal or hepatic immunology, flow cytometry/sorting, mouse models (IACUC-regulated work), gnotobiotics, microbiome or microbial genomics, or metabolomics/mass spectrometry, we expect real depth in some and the drive to learn the rest
• Comfortable with quantitative data; interest in computational or bioinformatic analysis is a plus
• Above all: rigor, independence, creativity, clear writing and speaking, and the collegiality to thrive on a team

What we offer: 

• A defined, fundable project inside an active portfolio (NIH/NCI, Department of Defense, PSC Partners Seeking a Cure, AGA, American Liver Foundation),  and a physician-scientist mentor invested in your transition to independence, with concrete support for F32, K99/R00, and other career-development awards
• Deep, hands-on training across a broad platform: gnotobiotics, multiparameter flow cytometry, NanoString and other gene-expression profiling, microbial genomics, and metabolomics
• First-author publications, national conference presentations, and co-investigator experience on funded work, on questions whose answers reach directly into the clinic
• Outstanding core facilities and a dense network of immunology, microbiome, and hepatology investigators at one of the world’s leading research and medical enterprises

Why Cleveland:  You’ll do better here than the coasts let you with significantly better cost of living than the coasts with world class institutions. A research salary affords a real apartment in a walkable neighborhood: University Circle puts world-class museums, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Little Italy within blocks of the lab. Lake Erie, a 23,000-acre ring of Metroparks, a serious food and music scene, and pro sports are all minutes away , and short commutes mean your time outside the lab is actually yours. It’s an easy place to put down roots and build both a career and a life.

To apply:  Send (1) a brief cover letter describing your research experience, interests, and what draws you to this work; (2) a CV with publications; and (3) names and contact information for three references to View email address on jobs.sciencecareers.org .