RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER 2

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The Research Scientist/Engineer 2 (E S UAW RSE) who fills this position will be engaged in research into antimicrobial pharmacodynamics including mechanisms of resistance, prevention of resistance, and developing strategies to overcome resistance. This position is funded by a grant focused on understanding glycopeptide cross-resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.

The long-acting lipoglycopeptide dalbavancin can select for cross-resistance to vancomycin and daptomycin, which play critical roles in the management of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. This cross-resistance is highly correlated with the emergence of mutations in the walKR pathway but it remains unclear how WalKR dysfunction leads to resistance to each agent or whether this resistance can be mitigated. Our interdisciplinary team proposes to use integrated and complementary techniques to determine the mechanisms through which walKR mutations lead to dalbavancin, vancomycin, and daptomycin cross- resistance, and to use beta-lactams and other metabolic modulators to re-sensitize mutants and prevent resistance. The purpose of this and other work we do is to guard against the threat of antimicrobial resistance by optimizing available therapies and identifying new targets for anti-resistance interventions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Antimicrobial Testing - 65%