Can I apply directly for this job on this page?

Yes, you can begin your application on this page using a quick form. You'll then be redirected to the employer's career site to complete the full application process.

What is the role of a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University?

The Postdoctoral Fellow position at Harvard University is a Full-time or part-time position opportunity in the relevant field.

Where is this Postdoctoral Fellow job located?

Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02163, United States

What type of employment is offered for this Postdoctoral Fellow role?

Full-time or part-time position

What industry does this Postdoctoral Fellow position belong to?

This role spans multiple industries.

What is the expected salary for this Postdoctoral Fellow job?

Compensation will be discussed during the hiring process.

Postdoctoral Fellow job near me in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Harvard University

Harvard University

Position

Details

Title	Postdoctoral Fellow
School	Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Department/Area	Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Position Description	The Le Pen Lab at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to join our research on innate immunity to RNA viruses. The position is funded by the NIH Directors New Innovator Award (DP2), Next-Generation Interferons: Mapping and Engineering Antiviral Function (NIAID, 2026–2031). (https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/le-pen-lab/). Our Research We seek to explain a fundamental paradox in human disease: why common viral infections cause little harm in most individuals yet lead to life-threatening or chronic disease in others. We investigate the cell-intrinsic mechanisms of innate immunity that enable cells to detect viruses, limit infection, and resolve immune activation once the pathogen has been cleared. We focus on long-lived, irreplaceable cell types such as neurons and pancreatic cells, which, unlike epithelial cells, must survive infection while keeping their specialized functions. Two questions organize the work: How do infected cells control viral replication while preserving the functions required for normal tissue function? How are antiviral and inflammatory responses actively shut down once a threat has been eliminated? The DP2 project Interferon fails in opposite directions: too weak, and ordinary viruses become lethal; too strong or too prolonged, and it drives inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The project attempts to uncouple the wanted and the undesired effects of interferon, combining human genetics, functional screening and cell biology. The fellow will take on a substantial part of this program, with scope to develop a research direction that is original but fits the aims of the award and the priorities of the group. The environment The DP2 runs until 2031, giving the project a long funding horizon to start from, and we expect it to bring in further grants as it develops. The lab was established in December 2024, with dedicated space, BSL-2+ and BSL-3 access, and exceptional institutional cores and scientific environment on the Harvard medical campus in Longwood. The successful candidate will help shape its direction and culture. We sit in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard Chan, with a secondary affiliation with the Harvard Medical School Department of Microbiology and membership of the Harvard Program in Virology. Fellows are supported in attending conferences, giving talks, writing proposals and mentoring.
Basic Qualifications	Ph.D. in a relevant field (immunology, virology, genetics, molecular biology, structural biology or related). Strong skills in experimental design, data analysis, and oral and written communication. Proficiency in standard cell culture and molecular biology techniques. Highly creative, able to work independently and collaboratively.
Additional Qualifications	Proven success in publishing research papers. Expertise in interferon biology, innate immunity or virology is a plus. Expertise in structural biology is a plus. Expertise in bioinformatics is a plus.
Special Instructions
Contact Information	To apply for this position: please email Jrmie Le Pen by email: jlepen@hsph.harvard.edu with a CV, letter of interest, and names of at least three references.
Contact Email	jlepen@hsph.harvard.edu
Salary Range	PGY \| Salary 0 \| $70,000 1 \| $72,100 2 \| $74,263 3 \| $76,491 4 \| $78,786 5 \| $81,149 6 \| $83,583 7+ \| $86,091
Minimum Number of References Required	3
Maximum Number of References Allowed
Keywords

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy. Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

Optional Documents

Postdoctoral Fellow in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Harvard University

Job Description

Scan to Apply

Explore Related Opportunities

Job Location

Frequently asked questions about this position

Similar Jobs In Cambridge, Massachusetts

Family Advocacy Surge Response Team

Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician-1

PHP Clinician (Per Diem/Hybrid) - Plymouth

Postdoctoral Fellow / Research Scientist (Ph.D.) in Human Neural Circuit Physiology

Statistics & Research, Full-Time Core Faculty

Apply Now