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Postdoctoral Researcher, Pluvinage Lab

Palo Alto, CA

About Arc Institute

Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization at the interface of artificial intelligence and biology, working to accelerate scientific progress and understand the root causes of complex diseases. Founded in 2021 and based in Palo Alto, Arc partners with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.

Unlike academia, our scientists have long-term funding and industry-like resources. Unlike industry, they're free to pursue high-risk, long-term research without commercial pressures. Arc's Technology Centers and Core Investigator labs work side by side, integrating experimental and computational biology under one roof to tackle problems neither could solve alone.

Our two Institute Initiatives reflect this model in action:

  • Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets,  accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.
  • Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.

More than 300 Arconauts work together at our Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.

About the position

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow with expertise in human immunology, neurobiology, or neuroimmunology to join the Pluvinage Lab at the Arc Institute. Our goal is to improve the lives of patients with neurological diseases by exploring undiagnosed autoimmunity in rare mystery cases and common neurodegenerative conditions alike.

The questions we ask:

  1. How do autoantibodies regulate cognition?
  2. What is the source, target, and mechanism of pathogenic autoantibodies in neurological disease?
  3. How can we eliminate pathogenic autoantibodies while leaving the rest of the immune system intact?
  4. How does comorbid autoimmunity contribute to cognitive decline in neurodegeneration?
  5. Are there protective autoantibodies that promote cognitive resilience in healthy brain aging?

The approaches we take: discovery-driven projects starting with human samples (cerebrospinal fluid, PBMCs, brain tissue) from curated cohorts of patients with neurological diseases, CRISPR screens, phage display, immune repertoire sequencing

Postdocs will be encouraged to lead independent projects resulting in high impact publications, present at conferences, and prepare for long-term careers in academia or industry. Clinical residents or fellows interested in physician-scientist pathways are encouraged to apply.

About you

  • You have a strong foundation in human immunology, neurobiology, or neuroimmunology and are eager to apply this expertise to translational questions in neurological disease.
  • You are extremely curious and self-motivated.
  • You thrive in a fast-paced environment while conducting rigorous and impactful research.
  • You are intellectually independent and are able to design new research directions and projects (with input from your PI).
  • You are eager to learn and adopt new techniques.
  • You are excited by solving puzzles that have a translational impact and/or creating new therapeutic approaches. 

In this position you will

  • Conduct High-Impact Research: Design, execute, and analyze experiments, taking ownership of a research project within the lab's scientific focus, with guidance from the PI and increasing independence as you develop expertise
  • Develop as a Future Scientific Leader: Publish first-author papers in high-impact journals, present your work at national and international conferences, and build a network of collaborators across the Arc Institute and beyond
  • Foster Scientific Excellence: Mentor and train research associates, technicians, and students, engage in Arc-wide activities (seminars, symposia, journal clubs); contribute to a collaborative, inclusive research environment; keep rigorous experimental records and documentation; contribute to lab operations, including equipment maintenance and protocol development

Requirements

  • Doctorate (MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in immunology, neuroimmunology, neuroscience, genetics, or a related field
  • Demonstrated expertise in human immunology or neurobiology, with a strong understanding of immune–nervous system interactions
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment and be both an independent thinker and a highly collaborative team player

Preferred Qualifications

  • Hands-on experience with pooled genome-scale CRISPR screening
  • Proficiency in single-cell immune repertoire sequencing
  • Experience working with primary human samples (CSF, PBMCs, or tissue)
  • Familiarity with computational analysis pipelines for high-dimensional immunological or single-cell data
  • Track record of first-author publications in immunology, neuroscience, or related fields

The minimum base salary for this position is $80,000. Base salary for this role is determined by how many months of relevant postdoctoral experience a successful candidate has. Base salary for this role is not negotiable.

 

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