Assistant Director, HLA/Immunogenetics Laboratory

Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the excellence of our academic community.

The Emory University Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual to join our team as a faculty member and Co-Director of the HLA/Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory at Emory University Hospital (EUH). This is a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the nations leading academic medical centers in a high-impact multidisciplinary role at the forefront of transplant immunogenetics.

The Emory HLA/Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge technologies for both serological assaysand molecular HLA typing. It plays a critical role in supporting a wide range of transplant programs across the Emory enterprisein addition to outside Client programs. Chief among these is the Emory Transplant Center (ETC) in Atlantaone of the busiest solid organ transplant centers in the United Statesproviding services for kidney kidney/pancreas liver heart and lung transplants.

In addition the laboratory supports the Emory Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Center as well as specialized pediatric transplant programs at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta including the Kidney and Liver Transplant Programs the Heart Failure and Advanced Cardiac Therapies Program and the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program. The lab also collaborates with Emory Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking Services to evaluate patients with suspected platelet transfusion refractoriness. The lab is involved in a variety of testing to support Emory and client research projects and also performs clinical testing for disease association and drug hypersensitivity HLA markers.

Emory HLA/Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory performs the STAT 24/7 testing in support of regional deceased donor allocation for UNOS United Network for Organ Sharing.

Clinical Services and Laboratory Capabilities Include:

• HLA Class I and II typing via real-time PCR and SSP with sequence-specific primers and next-generation sequencing (NGS) supporting high-resolution matching for solid organ and stem cell transplantation.
• Third-generation sequencing using Oxford Nanopore technology enabling rapid and high-resolution deceased donor typing.
• FlowPRA screening and single antigen bead assays to detect and characterize HLA antibodies and calculate cPRA.
• Autologous and allogeneic flow cytometric crossmatches for donor-recipient compatibility.
• Chimerism analysis using PCR-based short tandem repeat (STR) testing to monitor engraftment and detect relapse or graft-versus-host disease.
• 24/7 virtual crossmatching services for in silico donor compatibility assessments.
• Generation of HLA Family Study Reports HLA Bone Marrow Reports and solid organ transplant consult reports providing comprehensive immunological assessments to guide clinical care.

Position Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will:

• Serve as one of fourASHI-boarded directors of the Emory HLA/Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory sharing on-call responsibilities and administrative duties necessary for the operation and accreditation of the laboratory.
• Provide technical oversight for immunogenetics and histocompatibility testing review and sign out of test results clinical consultation development of clinical pathways and monitoring compliance with the Quality Control Plan.
• Lead or contribute to test development validation and implementation efforts.
• Participate in evening and weekend on-call responsibilities on a rotating basis.
• Dedicate approximately 7080% of their effort to clinical service in immunogenetics with the remaining effort distributed among teaching research and development administrative activities and participation in scientific meetings.
• Contribute to the academic mission of the department through education scholarly activity and collaborative research in the fields of immunogenetics and transfusion medicine.
• Ensure laboratory ASHI CAP CLIA OPTN compliance and upkeep competency to serve as CLIA approved Clinical Consultant and Technical Supervisor roles

Qualifications:

• Candidates must hold an MD PhD or MD/PhD degree (or equivalent).
• Must be board-certified or board-eligible by the American College of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ACHI).
• The successful candidate will be expected to hold or obtain ACHI status and qualify as a Laboratory Director accredited by the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) for the following areas:
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Solid Organ Transplantation
  • Disease Association
• The candidate must also obtain and maintain appropriate licensure required for laboratory directorship.

Clinical Appointment will be within the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Academic Appointment:Academic rank and compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience with appointment at the level of Assistant Professor through Professor.

Please provide curriculum vitae and names of three references to H. Cliff Sullivan MD F(ACHI) () and Anna Morris PhD F(ACHI) () Co-Directors of the HLA Laboratory or John D. Roback MD PhD () Vice-Chair and Division Director.

Emory is an equal opportunity employer and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin disability protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law. Emory University does not discriminate in admissions educational programs or employment including recruitment hiring promotions transfers discipline terminations wage and salary administration benefits and training. Students faculty and staff are assured of participation in university programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act and applicable executive orders federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination equal opportunity and affirmative action (for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities). Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance 201 Dowman Drive Administration Building Atlanta GA 30322. Telephone: (V) (TDD).

Emory University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at (V) (TDD). Please note that one weeks advance notice is preferred.