Postdoctoral Fellowship: Microbial & Molecular Ecology
Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research
School for Environment and Sustainability
University of Michigan
Job Summary
The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) at the University of Michigan is seeking a highly motivated candidate for a Postdoctoral Fellow position. This position will develop and use cutting-edge novel methods in metagenomics and metabarcoding, such as CRISPR Cas9 to investigate uncharacterized prey-predator interactions in the lower food web in the Great Lakes. This research will also investigate the role of prey-predator interactions in the dynamics of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms. The successful candidate will participate in sampling trips in the Great lakes, data collection, data analysis, and writing manuscripts. The postdoc will work closely with a group of scientists at the University of Michigan and the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arbor, MI. The postdoc will be expected to maintain a strong record of scholarly publication and presentations at scientific conferences and public meetings.
The successful applicant’s appointment will be with CIGLR, which is part of the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. CIGLR is a collaboration between the University of Michigan and NOAA that brings together experts from academia and government research labs to work on pressing problems facing the Great Lakes region. The fellow will spend the majority of their time at the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor (with current accommodations for the coronavirus pandemic) and work in close collaboration with colleagues at the University of Michigan.
The University of Michigan is consistently ranked among the top American public research universities, and Ann Arbor is routinely ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. due to its affordability, natural beauty, preservation of wooded areas, vibrant arts program, and lively downtown.
This position offers a highly competitive salary plus benefits. The initial appointment is for one year, with opportunity for extension based on performance, need, and availability of funds.
Required Qualifications
- Qualified candidates will hold a Doctoral degree in microbiology, molecular ecology, and biological oceanography. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position.
- Fluent with molecular biology techniques (e.g., DNA, RNA extractions, PCR, qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing using platforms such as Illumina.
- Experience in integrating and analyzing large scale data (omics and biogeochemical data)
- Computational skills important for this position are: familiarity with the command line environment, Unix, Bash, etc, and tools and knowledge of bioinformatics tools such as DADA2, Qiime, metaSPAdes, or Metabat2.
- Experience using R and/or Python to analyze targeted gene amplicon sequencing data and metagenomics data from microbiomes.
Desired Qualifications
- Demonstrated record of publishing papers on the use of metagenomic or metabarcoding techniques.
- Knowledge of the lower food web in aquatic environments.
- Highly motivated and independent, with the ability to work in a dynamic team environment.
- Exceptional organizational skills, strong communication skills.
Apply
To apply, visit: https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/200362/postdoctoral_research_fellow
The application deadline is August 8, 2021.
Applicants should prepare the following materials:
- Cover letter describing your qualifications related to the position and research accomplishments
- Curriculum vitae
- Contact information for three professional references
- Two representative publications
Please contact Dr. Subba Rao Chaganti (chaganti@umich.edu) with inquiries regarding this position or if further information is needed.
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.