Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor in Immunology

Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University

Hokkaido University Institute of Vaccine Research & Development (IVReD)

Following Assistant Professor Position is available in the immunology laboratory of Dr. Koichi S. Kobayashi at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. These are junior faculty positions with dual appointment at the Department of Immunology and at the Institute of Vaccine Research & Development (IVReD). Candidates are expected to engage in the research and educational activity in the Department of Immunology. The salary will be determined in accordance with the regulations of Hokkaido University with full benefits including health insurance. The appointment will be made annually up to 3 years, with a possible extension with terms of further years or transition to a tenure track position, based on the performance.

Our research activity mainly focus on the following area:

1) The role of innate immunity in the host-pathogen interaction

2) The molecular mechanisms of the  regulation of MHC class I and class II

3) Immune evasion mechanism of cancer and viruses using bioinformatics, molecular biology, proteomics and mouse genetics approaches.

4) Development of technology to predict efficacy of cancer immunotherapies.

5) Development of next generation of vaccine platforms targeting future pandemics, corona virus infection, tuberculosis and cancers.

The laboratory studies on the innate and adaptive immune responses, with particular emphasis on the function of NLR family proteins. The laboratory discovered the function of Nod2, a Crohn’s disease-associated NLR protein, for the intestinal mucosal immune system (Science 307, 731 (2005), Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106, 15813 (2010)), and succeeded in the development of ileal Crohn’s disease animal model (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107, 14739 (2010)). The laboratory also found another NLR member, NLRC5 is a master transcriptional activator of MHC class I genes (CITA) (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107, 13794 (2010), Nat Rev Immunol 12, 813 (2012)). Our main study is the mechanism of NLRC5-mediated MHC class I gene regulation (J Immunol 188, 4951(2012), J Immunol 189, 516 (2012), J Immunol 205, 1268 (2020) and its impact on cancer and other diseases (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107, Immunity 48, 271 (2018). We found that targeting NLRC5 is a major mechanism of immune evasion by cancer cells (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107, 13794 (2016), Trends Cancer 3, 28 (2017), Immunology (2020) and SARS-CoV-2 viruses (Nat Comm 2021), serve as a new biomarkers for the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy using checkpoint blockades (Scientific Reports 11, 3258 (2021). Please see our lab websites for more information:

https://hokudaiimmunology.wixsite.com/kobayashi-eng

The department has access to state-of-art core facilities in the Hokkaido University.  All lab communication and activity is mostly in English, however moderate Japanese communication skills and knowledge are preferred but not required. Candidates are expected to actively participate in academic conferences and acquire research funding. Other tasks include teaching responsibilities, supervising undergraduate/graduate students, and laboratory operational support.

Designated starting date: After April 1st , 2024 (3 months probation period)

Applicants with recent Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D., or has publications in international journals and a strong background in either molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, proteomics, mouse genetics, cancer bioinformatics are encouraged to apply. Strong candidates have either 1) experience in immunological research using mouse models, cellular immunology 2) bioinformatics using large data sets or 3) recombinant DNA and infection studies using Mycobacterium species (TB, BCG strain, etc). Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are required. Must be a team player. Candidates who pass the documents screening will proceed to in-person interview (online interview will take into consideration depending on the location).

Interested candidates should send their curriculum vitae, brief description of previous research accomplishments and contact information of three references to: Dr. Koichi Kobayashi, Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University.

E-mail: [email protected]