Postdoctoral Fellowship-Immunology

Position Overview
Tonix is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Postdoctoral Fellow with a background in immunology, autoimmunity or oncology to contribute to research and development across our growing immunology portfolio. This is an excellent opportunity to directly participate and obtain exposure to the end-to-end product development process including early-stage therapeutic discovery, nonclinical safety and pharmacological evaluation, cGMP manufacturing and clinical evaluation. The candidate will have a recent Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in a relevant field, a strong publication record, and experience working in an interdisciplinary team environment.  The position is located at the Tonix Research and Development Center (RDC) which is the innovation and development arm of Tonix Pharmaceuticals.  The RDC houses state-of-the-art equipment (i.e., high content imaging, mass spectrometry, spectral flow cytometry, in vivo imaging system, multi-parallel bioreactors, etc.) and is responsible for development of efficient and cutting-edge treatment methods for various diseases including infectious diseases, oncology, and other indications.  The individual in this position will work as part of the research team to deliver and optimize therapeutic pipelines for potential clinical investigation. 

Key Responsibilities
•    Conduct independent and original research supporting the Tonix portfolio and RDC mission
•    Develop novel methods and assays to contribute to the RDC research pipeline
•    Establish in-vitro and in-vivo models to support evaluation of Immunotherapeutics against diverse disease conditions (e.g., oncology, autoimmunology)
•    Collection, analysis, and evaluation of data
•    Interpret data, make decisions, and conduct troubleshooting on related technical issues
•    Preparation of scientific presentations, reports, manuscripts, and grant proposals
 
This is a fast-paced challenging position offering competitive compensation and benefits package.  This position will report to the Director of Immunology and will be based at the Tonix Research and Development Center in Frederick, Maryland.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
•    Design, optimize, and standardize novel in-house assays, ensuring consistent reliability and reproducibility of screening outcomes.
•    Provide scientific leadership and expertise in cell-based, molecular, and biochemical assays, while ensuring rigorous experimental data analysis.
•    Independently troubleshoot, problem-solve, and execute experiments, while effectively incorporating feedback and adapting to evolving project needs.
•    Work cross-functionally in a matrix environment, partnering with project and functional teams to drive research objectives forward.
•    Characterize and assess binding properties of novel proteins and antibodies using cutting-edge technologies, including Octet, high-content plate-based imaging, and novel reporter-based assays.
•    Perform antibody and protein engineering, including affinity maturation, to optimize potency and therapeutic potential.
•    Lead and participate in cross-functional project teams, proposing innovative discoveries and optimization strategies that align with industry’s best practices.
•    Integrate cross-functional inputs to develop a robust, strategic R&D plan, ensuring alignment with Tonix’s innovation goals.
•    Uphold company mission and values, emphasizing accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.
•    Support special projects and business initiatives as needed to contribute to Tonix's broader corporate strategy.
Supervisory Responsibilities
•    Recruits, interviews, hires, and training new staff
•    Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations
•    If necessary, handles discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy
•    If necessary, contributes to performance and compensation decisions such as merit raises, bonuses, and promotions 
•    Supervise and mentor members of the team and be able to communicate well with peers  

Minimum Qualifications
•    Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree 
•    Strong accomplishment record demonstrating the ability to perform independent, high-quality, creative, and impactful research in the field of application of viral vectors as vaccines against deadly pathogens and antibody or protein design and discovery
•    Ability to generate hypothesis to test ideas, use the data set to evaluate hypothesis, and design new studies 
•    Ability to apply multiple cutting-edge techniques for drug screening, such as high-content imaging, microscopy, and cell-based screening
•    Sound working experience in industry or biological context, and the ability to interrogate large data sets using computational tools and application of bioinformatic to dissect complicated data sets such as high throughput data a plus
•    Ability for minimal travel
•    Dedicated team player who can withstand the high demands of a fast-paced environment
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential
•    Strong planning and organizational skills
•    Comfortable working independently with minimal supervision
•    Highly organized, results-driven, problem solver, and collaborator
•    Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation