opportunities

We are always looking for skilled and motivated students and research scientists to contribute to our research projects!

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• Postdoctoral
• Graduate
• Undergraduate
• High School

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Sneh is sorting out flies for dissection

Postdoctoral positions are advertised according to funding availability.

Interested and motivated individuals with strong background in Drosophila genetics, immunology, microbiology and/or parasitology are strongly encouraged to contact Ioannis Eleftherianos (ioannise@gwu.edu).

Self-funded researchers are also welcome to contact us to discuss potential positions in the lab.

Jelena is dissecting gut from flies

Dustin is preparing plates to grow bacterial colonies

Whidbey is injecting flies with bacteria for her summer Harlan project.

We accept applications from candidates who are interested in pursuing graduate studies (Ph.D. or Masters) on the molecular basis of insect infection and immunity processes.

​Profile of candidates: These positions are suitable for highly motivated and ambitious individuals interested in integrative biology research, preferably with some experience in one or more of the following areas: insect molecular biology, genetics, comparative immunology, parasitology or molecular microbiology. Our research projects are ideal for graduate studies as they require multidisciplinary approaches with the use of molecular, cellular and immunological techniques. Practical training will be undertaken in-house and will promote exchanges of students between our group and the labs of our collaborators in the US and Europe. Graduate students will interact on a daily basis with other members (senior scientists and research students) of the lab. Good knowledge (speaking and writing) of scientific English is also required.

​​​Environment: Our lab works closely with other groups in the Department investigating invertebrate immunity and host-pathogen interactions (Professor Courtney Smith) and at the GW Medical Center / Institute for Biomedical Sciences (Dr. John Hawdon). The Department of Biological Sciences is excellently equipped for work with insects and microbes and GW has state-of-the-art facilities for molecular biology including high throughput sequencing, microarrays platform and genomics core. Major scientific organizations (National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Farm) are located nearby the GW Foggy Bottom campus. Quality of life in Washington D.C. is very high with easy travel to most US destinations and the world.

How to apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application directly to Dr. Eleftherianos (ioannise@gwu.edu), including a cover letter, a full Curriculum Vitae, a brief description of their prior research experience, together with the names and addresses of one or more referee(s).    ​

Yaprak is anasthesizing the flies with carbondioxide

Dr. Eleftherianos (right) with senior chemistry major, Nate Bachtel are observing the condition of the fly stocks (Photo: Logan Werlinger)

Undergraduate research opportunities are occasionally available depending on space availability in the lab. 

• Students interested in conducting an independent research project that will lead to writing and submitting an Honors Thesis are welcome. 
• Students interested in performing research in the lab for taking credit (BISC4171 Undergraduate Research) may also be admitted. ​

Depending on the interests of the students, there are several possible projects in the areas of host-microbe/parasite interactions, pathogen virulence and host innate immunity. 

Undergraduate students are mentored in all aspects of their projects by senior members of the lab.  They take part in weekly lab meetings and journal clubs. They are also trained in writing drafts of research papers and proposals, and encouraged to apply for GWU fellowships as well as fellowships from The American Society for Microbiology and the Genetics Society of America. They participate in GWU annual Research Day and National meetings to present their work and promote networking. 

​Students are encouraged to contact Dr. Eleftherianos (ioannise@gwu.edu) directly.

We also accept students from high schools in the Washington metropolitan area.

We have established partnership with Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria, VA) (http://www.tjhsst.edu/) . The purpose of this partnership is to host motivated students interested in infection-immunity and host-pathogen interactions research and provide a unique educational experience through lab training and participation in research projects.

For more information and current opportunities in the lab, interested students can contact Dr. Eleftherianos (ioannise@gwu.edu).

Our small farewell for Ashima Banga (right). She worked in a 6-month project under Shruti Yadav.