GRAD LIFE IN AINSLIE LAB - Ainslie Lab @ UNC

Likely the Ainslie Lab will take at least one student in the Fall 2026-27 year.

Graduate Student Opportunities in the Ainslie Lab

The Ainslie Lab at UNC–Chapel Hill welcomes graduate students through the following programs:

Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics (DPMP) in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy
UNC/NC State Joint Biomedical Engineering (BME) Department
Biological & Biomedical Sciences Program (BBSP) (students typically matriculate into DPMP or Microbiology & Immunology programs)

👉 Note: As of 2024, Dr. Ainslie will prioritize DPMP students, since their placement occurs in December before BBSP placements.

If you contact Dr. Ainslie about joining the lab, please indicate which program you intend to apply to.

Rotations

DPMP: two rotations (~7 weeks each)
BBSP: three rotations (~10 weeks each)
BME: typically no rotations; students are directly admitted to labs

In the Ainslie Lab, rotations are designed to provide hands-on skills and an independent project. Rotation students are paired with a graduate student or postdoc mentor, and complete a project tailored to their background and interests. As an example of what students are often initially taught through hands on training in the lab and shared protocols:

Synthesize acetalated dextran (very easy!)
Prepare microparticles via multiple techniques (also very easy!)
Perform mammalian cell culture (if not already experienced)
An independent project that may lead to a publication or an existing project that ties with their research interest and aligns with their training.

Example projects include:

Exploring Treg generation in vitro with different treatments
Encapsulating adjuvants in particles of varying degradation rates and testing immune responses
Developing new spray-drying methods for proteins or small molecules
Comparing immune responses from particles made via emulsion, spray drying, or electrospray
Combining tolerogenic agents and measuring anti-inflammatory cytokine responses

Students also join a theme group (e.g., influenza vaccine, autoimmune vaccine) that meets biweekly, and take part in weekly full-lab meetings featuring journal clubs and research presentations. Our lab emphasizes team science: each student leads their own project while also contributing to the work of others. This collaborative approach provides broad skill development and creates strong opportunities for authorship, often leading to a robust publication record.

Skills & Training

Students in the lab develop a strong foundation in:

In vitro & in vivo immune assays (ELISA, ELISpot, flow cytometry, cell culture)
Animal handling & disease models (influenza, MS, T1D)
Characterization techniques (SEM, NMR, confocal microscopy, humoral and cellular response analysis)
Exposure to both chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences as well as immunology and engineering approaches

Alumni from the Ainslie Lab have gone on to careers in academia, industry, and beyond (see our Alumni page).

Mentoring & Lab Culture

Dr. Ainslie maintains an open-door policy.
Students meet biweekly with grad students and postdocs in theme groups for progress reports and experiment planning.
Weekly lab meetings include journal clubs and research presentations.
Peer-to-peer training and mentoring is a cornerstone of lab culture.

We value collaboration: major projects (e.g., large-scale vaccine studies) are often completed in teams, which also creates opportunities for lead authorship and co-authorship.

Lab operations are organized via Google Calendar, Microsoft Teams (protocols, templates, examples), and Lab Archives Digital Notebooks for data collection.

What Makes a Strong Fit for the Ainslie Lab

We seek students who are:

Self-motivated, efficient, and collaborative
Committed to rigorous, ethical science (no manipulation, falsification, or fabrication of data)
Open to developing not only technical skills but also writing, presenting, and professional development abilities

We foster a respectful, inclusive environment—racism, sexism, bigotry, or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.

Advice for Choosing a Graduate Advisor

Choose your advisor and lab first—projects can change, but your relationship with your advisor will shape your experience.
Strong labs have supportive students/postdocs, solid publication records, and well-maintained equipment.
Look at alumni outcomes to ensure they align with your career goals.

Application Timeline (DPMP PhD Program)

Applications due: late November/early December (hard deadline – we cannot accept applications after that year’s deadline)
Zoom per-interviews: mid-December
Recruitment weekend: January or February
Offers issued shortly after, with decisions due April 15

Competitive Applicants (DPMP)

Successful applicants typically have:

Undergraduate research experience (not necessarily in drug delivery)
Degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, biology, or related fields
Some have industry experience in pharma; fewer have prior MS or PharmD degrees

✨ In short: The Ainslie Lab provides graduate students with an interdisciplinary, supportive environment to grow as independent scientists while developing expertise in drug delivery, immunology, and translational research.