Title of the Position: Postdoctoral Associate
Translational/Clinical Research / Infectious Diseases and Global Health / Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
Department and School: Yale Child Health Research Center
Anticipated Appointment Dates: March 1, 2026, to February 29, 2028
Email/Website: inci.yildirim@yale.edu, https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/inci-yildirim/
Position Summary
The Yildirim Lab seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join an interdisciplinary research program focused on vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases across life spans. Yildirim research group is funded by the NIH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and industry partners, and conducts laboratory- and field-based studies on vaccines and vaccine-preventable infections. The Yildirim Lab studies innate and adaptive immune signatures of vaccine responses in vulnerable populations, such as transplant recipients and individuals with sickle cell disease, using tools including multicolor flow cytometry, single-cell mRNA transcriptomics, and quantitative/functional antibody assays in human and animal models.
Responsibilities
The postdoctoral associate will – based on their research interest:
- Design and execute wet-lab experiments, including some combination of qPCR / RT-qPCR, Western blotting, Flow cytometry, single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, and mouse work (including immune and infection models)
- Analyze and interpret genetic and genomic data
- Participate in the clinical trial activities, including:
- Recruitment, enrollment, and retention of eligible study participants in hospital settings
- Design, development, and maintenance of online research databases using REDCap
- Use of electronic medical record systems (e.g., EPIC) and large claim/surveillance datasets for clinical research
- Develop domain knowledge in vaccinology
- Contribute to manuscript preparation, grant writing, and collaborative projects
- Participate in written and oral communication of research findings
- Prep and publish original research, including abstracts and peer-reviewed manuscripts
- Mentor trainees (as appropriate) and participate in a highly interactive research environment
Location
Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University, 464 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT
Qualifications
We’re looking for someone with a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD (or related field such as genetics, immunology, computational biology, systems biology, or bioinformatics). The role involves clinical research activities, including patient-facing work, data collection, and study coordination, and is well-suited for someone interested in long-term research or a medical career. Strong communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are essential. A two-year commitment is required.
Training environment
The postdoctoral associate will be embedded in a collaborative research environment that brings together expertise in immunology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, statistics, and data science. The position offers substantial opportunities for professional development, including
mentorship in grant writing, leadership in large collaborative projects, and development of an independent research program in computational psychiatry.
Appointment details:
- Full-time postdoctoral position
- Initial appointment of one year, with the possibility of renewal for up to three years based on performance
- Initial Salary of $68,500 and benefits commensurate with NIH and Yale guidelines
Process to apply
The complete applications should be emailed to inci.yildirim@yale.edu
Applications must include 1) a resume (biosketch); 2) one letter of recommendation from a professional supervisor (e.g., honors thesis advisor or previous PI); and 3) contact information for two supervisors (name, institution, phone, email) who are willing to be contacted for reference.