Post Doctoral.Post Doctoral.AssociateUniversity of Pittsburgh

Required skills:
• Experience with molecular genomic or transcriptomic of bacterial or fungal pathogens, including studies of resistance
• Experience with a variety of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms, including PacBio, Illumina, and Ion Torrent
• Experience with the bacterial or fungal pathogenesis

Analysis of research
• Collect, store, and maintain research data on file and in the database
• Extract relevant research data and analyze using appropriate analytic tools
• Perform comprehensive analysis of bacterial or fungal genotypic or phenotypic data
• Constantly evaluate new research tools as they become available for possible inclusion in the lab
• Ensure integrity of research data by regular maintenance and calibration of equipment and auditing of data collection processes.

Development of research interests:
• Participate in research projects being carried out within the lab
• Keep abreast of new research by reading journals, attending meetings, and keeping in contact with local research groups with similar interests
• Identify new research questions arising from or related to current studies
• Formulate strategies for answering these questions – research new techniques, evaluate new NGS technologies, and analytic processes
• Propose research projects based on these strategies
• Apply for research grant funding. Report and disseminate research knowledge
• Prepare abstracts, posters, and presentations for local, national, and international conferences and meetings
• Write papers for research journals

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Post Doctoral Associate will lead and contribute to research focused on microbial genomics and phenotypic characterization of fungal pathogens (and if indicated bacterial pathogens), with an emphasis on within-host evolution and mechanisms of resistance. Responsibilities include designing and executing experiments utilizing next-generation sequencing platforms (e.g., Illumina, PacBio, Ion Torrent), performing comprehensive genomic and phenotypic data analysis, and ensuring the integrity, organization, and quality control of research datasets. They will apply advanced bioinformatic and analytic approaches to interpret complex datasets, while continuously evaluating and incorporating emerging technologies and methodologies. In addition, they will actively participate in the development of new research directions, formulate testable hypotheses, and contribute to grant writing. The role also includes identifying novel or unexpected findings and developing strategies for their further investigation and validation. The postdoctoral fellow will disseminate research findings through manuscripts, conference presentations, and collaboration with internal and external research groups.

Degree requirements: Ph.D. in Microbiology, Genetics, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, or related field

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.