Postdoctoral Researcher, Neuro-Immune Interactions, Pluvinage Lab

Our two Institute Initiatives reflect this model in action

• Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets, accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.
• Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.

More than 300 Arconauts work together at our Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.

About the position

We are seeking a Postdoc to join the Pluvinage Lab at the Arc Institute. Our goal is to improve the lives of patients with neurological diseases. We do this by exploring undiagnosed autoimmunity in rare mystery cases and common neurodegenerative conditions alike.

Starting with clinical observations and primary patient tissue, we use functional genomics, protein display technologies, and computational tools to embark on deep mechanistic dives into the contribution of autoimmunity to cognitive function.

Your work will have the potential to uncover novel autoantibodies that drive cognitive decline in autoimmune encephalitis, that modulate cognitive decline in dementia, and that promote cognitive resilience in healthy brain aging.

The questions we ask

• How do autoantibodies regulate cognition?
• What is the source, target, and mechanism of pathogenic autoantibodies in neurological disease?
• How can we eliminate pathogenic autoantibodies while leaving the rest of the immune system intact?
• How does comorbid autoimmunity contribute to cognitive decline in neurodegeneration?
• Are there protective autoantibodies that promote cognitive resilience in healthy brain aging?

The approaches we take: discovery-driven projects starting with human samples (cerebrospinal fluid, PBMCs, brain tissue) from curated cohorts of patients with neurological diseases, CRISPR screens, phage display, immune repertoire sequencing

Postdocs will be encouraged to lead independent projects resulting in high impact publications, present at conferences, and prepare for long-term careers in academia or industry. Clinical residents or fellows interested in physician-scientist pathways are encouraged to apply.

About you

• You have a strong foundation in human immunology, neurobiology, and/or computational biology and are eager to apply this expertise to translational questions in neurological disease.
• You are extremely curious and self-motivated.
• You thrive in a fast-paced environment while conducting rigorous and impactful research.
• You are intellectually independent and are able to design new research directions and projects (with input from your PI).
• You are eager to learn and adopt new techniques.
• You are excited by solving puzzles that have a translational impact and/or creating new therapeutic approaches.
• You love to collaborate and explore outside your field of expertise.

In this position you will

• Conduct High-Impact Research: Design, execute, and analyze experiments, taking ownership of a research project within the lab's scientific focus, with guidance from the PI and increasing independence as you develop expertise
• Develop as a Future Scientific Leader: Publish first-author papers in high-impact journals, present your work at national and international conferences, and build a network of collaborators across the Arc Institute and beyond
• Foster Scientific Excellence: Mentor and train research associates, technicians, and students, engage in Arc-wide activities (seminars, symposia, journal clubs); contribute to a collaborative, inclusive research environment; keep rigorous experimental records and documentation; contribute to lab operations, including equipment maintenance and protocol development

Requirements

• Doctorate (MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in immunology, neuroimmunology, neuroscience, genetics, or a related field
• Demonstrated expertise in human immunology, neurobiology, or computational biology with a strong understanding of immune-nervous system interactions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment and be both an independent thinker and a highly collaborative team player

Please submit

• CV
• Brief cover letter describing your research interests, what kinds of projects you're excited to lead, and why the Pluvinage Lab is a fit. Please be sure to include contact information for 3+ references.

Pay and benefits

The minimum base salary for this position is $80,000. Base salary for this role is determined by how many months of relevant postdoctoral experience a successful candidate has. Base salary for this role is not negotiable.