The Ahern Group (https://www.lerner.ccf.org/cms/ahern/), in the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences and the Center for Microbiome and Human Health (http://cmhh.ccf.org/) at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, seeks a postdoctoral researcher to study the interplay between the intestinal immune system and the gut microbiota in health and disease.

• Our long-term goal is to advance efforts to leverage the microbiota for the promotion of host health. Critical to this objective is understanding the immune-microbiota dialogue that impacts host immune responses and susceptibility to disease.
• Our immediate objective is to define the molecular basis through which gut microbes shape host immune responses, and the nature of their interactions with the intestinal immune system.
• This will be addressed by leveraging cutting-edge microbiological and immunological techniques allied to metagenomics in gnotobiotic mouse models of IBD, allergy, and infection, to provide insights into the specific microbiota members that shape host immune responses.
• The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated individual who wants to drive their own research project while working in a collaborative environment.
• The candidate will have completed, or be close to completing, a Ph.D. degree (or M.D. with at least 3 years research experience), and be interested in microbiota research, specifically in working at the interface of microbiology and immunology.
• Experience in either immunology or microbiology is required. Familiarity with metagenomics is desirable but not essential.

The candidate will join a dynamic research department (http://www.lerner.ccf.org/) and microbiotafocused research center, whose areas of interest encompass a breadth of topics related to the cellular and molecular pathways that mediate disease. The Department is also home to a number of groups whose work focuses on the contributions of the microbiota to host health and pathology, as well as numerous state-of-the-art core facilities that facilitate these studies. Our group, and the Department as a whole, seeks to provide a stimulating and collaborative research environment, committed to the training and development of its trainees, and enabling their growth as independent researchers. A competitive benefits and salary package is available. Cleveland is located on the shores of beautiful Lake Erie in Northeast Ohio and offers affordable, family friendly living with an abundance of activities including a stunning network of metroparks, world class arts and entertainment, and for the sports fanatic, three professional sports teams.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter (1 page maximum) outlining their research interests, as well as a CV and the contact information for 3 references to Dr. Philip Ahern at ahernp@ccf.org