Job Requirements

Requirements for this post include a strong record of publications, a PhD and/or MD.  Experience in immunology, confocal imaging, image analysis, molecular biology, mammalian, cell biology, and protein chemistry is preferred.  The appointment will be a the University of Missouri, School of Medicine, in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Molecular Immunology.

All applications should include the following:

1. Cover letter indicating current and future research interests and expected availability date.
2. CV (Curriculum Vitae).  List of publications included.
3. Description of past research experience and accomplishments.
4. Three reference letters.

Please send your complete application to:

Emma Teixeiro Pernas, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, School of Medicine
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
M616 Medical Sciences Building
Columbia, MO  65212  USA

Email: teixeiropernase@missouri.edu

Web Site: http://mmi.missouri.edu/faculty-research/faculty-post-docs/teixeiro-pernas-emma/

The University of Missouri is an AA/EOE. Women and minorities under-represented in biomedical research are encouraged to apply.

3200 Introduction to Medical Microbiology and Immunology (3).
Focus on medically important viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites with emphasis on their disease causing potential and mechanisms. Introduction to cells and molecules of the immune system with emphasis on their role in fighting infectious diseases. Discussion of treatment and prevention strategies. Lecture material will be reinforced with laboratory demonstrations and hands-on exercises. The course is intended for preprofessional students.

4300 Microbial Pathogenesis (4).
This is a team taught, microbial pathogenesis course that covers the concepts of virulence and pathogenicity of bacteria. Topics covered include microbial structure, physiology, and metabolism; mobile genetic elements; antibiotic resistance; microbial gene regulation; microbial toxins; microbial evasion; emerging pathogens; and vaccines. This course is designed for upper level undergraduates and graduate students.

4304 Immunology (3).
This is a comprehensive team-taught, basic immunology course covering cells and organs of the immune system, lymphocyte development, innate immunity, antibody production, antibody-antigen presentation, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte responses, cytokines, autoimmunity and immunodificiency among other immunologically relevant topics. Completion of a biochemistry, genetics, or molecular biology course would be helpful. Prerequisites: MICROB 3200 or BIOCHEM 4270 recommended.

4305H Honors Microbial Pathogenesis (4).
This is a team-taught, microbial pathogenesis course that covers the concepts of virulence and pathogenicity of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Topics covered include microbial structure, physiology, and metabolism; mobile genetic elements; antibiotic resistance; microbial gene regulation; microbial toxins; microbial evasion; emerging pathogens; and concepts of viral pathogenecity as well as emerging viruses. This course is designed for upper level undergraduates. Honors eligibility required.

Graduate level Courses:

7304 Immunology (3).
Covers immunocytology and immunochemistry of antigens, immunoglobulins, and the complement system, serologic reactions, immunoglobulin and T cell mediated allergy, tumor and transplantation immunology and autoimmune disease, also laboratory demonstrations. Prerequisites: graduate standing and MICROB 3200 or BIOCHM 4270 or 4272 recommended or instructor’s consent.

8303 Medical Virology (3).
Classification of viruses, life cycles, genome organization and expression, host virus interactions, oncogenes and cellular transformation, strategies for anti viral therapy, recombinant vaccines and viruses as vectors for gene therapy. Prerequisite: graduate standing and MICROB 3200 or 4300 or equivalent or instructor’s consent

8404 Microbial Pathogenesis (4).
Mechanisms of pathogenesis pertaining to bacterial, infections of humans and animals. Includes detailed studies of select pathogens through the reading and analysis of current scientific literature, and oral presentations. Prerequisite: graduate standing and instructor’s consent.

9001 Topics in Microbiology (cr. arr.).
Current topics, highly specialized topics taught infrequently, and courses taught by visiting professors. Prerequisite: graduate standing and instructor’s consent.

9085 Problems (cr. arr.).
Students assigned individual problems in microbiology for library or lab investigation. Offered fall, winter and summer semesters. Prerequisite: graduate standing and instructor’s consent.

9087 Seminar (1).
Presentation and critical discussion of student and staff research, current literature, and guest lectures. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

9090 Research (cr. arr.).
Original investigations in various areas of microbiology related to bacteria, fungi, rickettsia, viruses, and animal parasites, or immunology relating to antigens and antibodies of infectious and noninfectious nature designed for graduate thesis research. Prerequisite: graduate standing and instructor’s consent. Graded on a S/U basis only.

9403 Advanced Medical Microbiology (3).
Similar to Microbiology 4300 but treats medical microbiology and immunology in a more advanced manner. Methods of preparation and instruction stressed. Prerequisite: graduate standing and instructor’s consent.

9407 Advanced Immunology (3).
Lectures and discussions emphasizing theoretical aspects of immunology and detailed considerations for the more involved areas of this science. Prerequisites: MICROB 7304 or equivalent, graduate standing and instructor’s consent.

9411 Responsible Conduct of Research (1).
Ethical, legal and sociological ramifications of research including data management, authorship, human and animal use, conflict of interest and misconduct. Round table discussions and interactive forums. Grading based on participation in discussions and assignments. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Graded on S/U basis only.

9430 Molecular Biology I (4).
(same as Biochemistry 9430).
Detailed examination of current fundamental concepts of molecular genetics of bacteria, bacteriophages and yeast. Experimental approaches to analysis of the physical structures of genomic nucleic acids, the biochemistry and genetics of mutations, replications, gene transfer and gene expression will be examined in depth from reports in the current literature. Prerequisite: Biochemistry, genetics, and graduate standing.

9432 Molecular Biology II (4).
(same as Biochemistry 9432).
Detailed experimental analysis of eukaryotic cellular and molecular biology relevant to cellular and viral gene expression, posttranscriptional and posttranslational modifications and genome replication. Models for developmental genetic analysis and genetic determinants controlling developmental processes utilizing the current literature will be examined. Prerequisite: MICROB 9430, graduate standing.

If you have any questions about the courses you may contact Jana Clark.

3200 – Introduction to Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Dr. Louise Thai)
Tuesdays and Thursdays
8:00 am Lecture M105 Lester Bryant Auditorium
9:00 am Mini Lecture for Lab in S261 SON for Morning and Afternoon labs
1A – Morning lab to be directly following the Mini lecture for lab until 10:50 am M122 Medical Science Bldg.
1B – Afternoon Lab will return at 3:00-4:30 pm to M122 Medical Science Bldg.
(On days that there are labs, there will be a short overview for both lab sessions from 9:00-9:30 in M105. You will want the 8:00-9:50 time when you have exams.)
Course work for 3200 will be posted on Blackboard.

4300/4305H – Microbial Pathogenesis (Dr. Michael Misfeldt)
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 – 10:25 am
M615 Medical Science Bldg.
Course work for 4300 will be posted on Blackboard

4304 – Immunology (Dr. David Lee)
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
10:00 – 10:50 am
M615 Medical Science Bldg.
Course work for 4304 will be posted on Blackboard

Dr. Baldwin trained in the laboratory of Alistair Lax, Ph. D. at King’s College, London, where his studies focused on the mode of action of Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT) using biochemical and cell biological approaches.

He then joined the laboratory of Prof. Joseph Barbieri at the Medical College of Wisconsin as a postdoctoral fellow. There he investigated the mode of action of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) by developing an E. coli-based expression system that has allowed structure-function studies of the BoNT proteins. His work resulted in the identification of arginine hydroxamate as a small molecule inhibitor of BoNT/A, in the first co-crystal of BoNT/A bound to a catalytic inhibitor, in the generation of a heptavalent subunit vaccine against botulism, and in identification of a cellular receptor complex for BoNTs.

The Department has a long history of research excellence in microbial pathogenesis and immunology. Important institutional commitments have provided an opportunity for significant expansion over the past four years, bringing eight new tenure track faculty with innovative research programs in viral pathogenesis and immunology, with additional faculty searches opening in bacterial pathogenesis. These new investigators complement existing departmental and institutional research strengths to provide a dynamic and creative environment for interdisciplinary scientific investigation in such areas as autoimmunity, innate and acquired immunity to infectious microorganisms, design of therapeutic reagents targeted to viral and bacterial pathogens, and basic principles of microbial genetics and physiology. The growth in our talented and interactive faculty has resulted in significant recent increases in federal research support from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies, private research foundations and biomedical industry partners. These funding advances have occurred despite a slowing federal budget for biomedical research.

The research environment at MU with Colleges of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, Engineering, and Arts and Sciences on one comprehensive campus fosters the development of interdisciplinary scientific interactions that enhance both research and training opportunities for faculty and students alike. The Bond Life Sciences Center represents such an interdisciplinary research enterprise and houses investigators from multiple colleges and departments, including MMI. Critical to the Department’s interests in infectious diseases and immunity research, the recent construction of an NIH-funded Regional Biocontainment Laboratory provides modern BSL3/ABSL3 containment research space and animal holding facilities for the investigation of highly infectious organisms and human select agents. This resource, and the Department’s partnership with the Midwest Regional Center for Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease Research , centered at Washington University in St. Louis, position MU in the national network of infectious disease research and training efforts. Additionally, MU has partnered with NIH to strategically invest in critical research resources, including unique resource centers for mouse, rat and swine genetic models for disease research and the development of transgenic and knockout animal strains. MU has supported the development of state of the art Research Core Facilities, providing instrumentation and high throughput capabilities in genomics, mass spectroscopy, imaging (confocal, light and electron microscopy, live animal micro-PET and micro-CT), structural biology (NMR, X-ray crystallography and access to a national synchrotron beamline) and flow cytometry. These modern, world-class facilities give MU investigators the research and training tools needed to develop nationally competitive research programs and teams.

MMI has a long history of providing graduate and postgraduate education in basic principles of microbiology and immunology, as well as research training opportunities in the laboratories of established scientists with diverse research interests. Faculty expansion has provided new curricular offers with flexibility for personalized scholarly pursuits built in. The breadth of research training includes faculty laboratories in the School of Medicine, the Bond Life Sciences Center and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The training program in microbiology and immunology is enhanced by colleagues from the Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology and Biochemistry. Strong scientific interactions among faculty from these and other academic units across campus illustrate the importance of scientific collaborations not only in meeting the research challenges in microbiology and immunology, but also in providing a strong academic environment for the training of the next generation of scientists and educators in these disciplines . The faculty in this training program have achieved international recognition for their scientific contributions and expertise, with their research efforts published in top tier research journals and funded through stringent peer-reviewed federal grants. Many of these investigators serve on scientific review committees for these funding agencies.

All of these activities occur in a collegial department located within a thriving medical center in a “user-friendly” city in the center of Missouri. On behalf of the faculty, I encourage you to review this document and to contact us if you desire to acquire the training and experience that will enable you to make contributions to the research and teaching of microbiology and immunology in the decades to come, decades that hold tremendous promise for achieving significant biomedical and environmental advances through our interactions with the microbial world.

Mark A. McIntosh
Professor and Chairman
September 2009

Please e-mail curriculum vitae, and the names of three references to:

Habib Zaghouani, Ph.D.
The University of Missouri
School of Medicine
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Columbia, MO  65212
USA

Email: Habib Zaghouani

The University of Missouri is an AA/EOE. Women and minorities under-represented in biomedical research are encouraged to apply.

Please send curriculum vitae and the names of three references to:

Dongsheng Duan, Ph.D.
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65212
Email: Dongsheng Duan

Web: http://mmi.missouri.edu/dongsheng/dd.php

The University of Missouri is an AA/EOE. Women and minorities under-represented in biomedical research are encouraged to apply.