Postdoctoral Position for a Microbial Ecologist

University of Connecticut and USDA ARS at Leetown, WV

Position Summary

We seek to fill a Postdoctoral Position for a Microbial Ecologist who will be hosted at the USDA ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture in Leetown, WV and be affiliated with the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. The successful candidate of this grant-funded position will perform a research project that utilizes next-generation sequencing approaches to characterize microbial communities and identify fish pathogens. It is expected that the successful candidate will travel to the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT for training and to commercial fish farms in Washington State and Idaho for sample collection. The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in a related area with experience in molecular biological techniques and have an excellent command of verbal and written communication skills. Experience in the study of microbial communities and use of QiiME or an equivalent bioinformatics package for community analysis is preferred.  The technical supervision will be by Dr. Welch from the USDA NCCCWA and the administrative supversion by Dr. Graf from the University of Connecticut.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:  Qualified applicants must have a Ph.D. in microbiology or a related area and a publication record. The candidate must have experience or the equivalent skills to process microbiome samples, characterize the microbial community using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and/or QIIME or an equivalent bioinformatics package for data analysis.

Preferred Qualifications:  Highly desirable is a strong background in microbial ecology or microbiome science. Excellence in team-work, strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work independently are a plus.

To Apply

Screening of candidates will begin immediately and remain open until filled.  Interested applicants must apply electronically joerg.graf@uconn.edu, submitting a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three letters from professional references.  For questions regarding this position, prospective applicants should email joerg.graf@uconn.edu, University of Connecticut, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Unit 3124, 91 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT  06269-3124.

The University of Connecticut encourages applications from under-represented groups, including minorities, women, and people with disabilities.