Postdoctoral Research Associate
The Limoli Laboratory at The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, is seeking highly motivated, innovative postdocs to study interspecies bacterial communication and community development.
Polymicrobial communities are ubiquitous in the human body and their behaviors are critical drivers of both health and disease. Our recent data reveal that bacteria can communicate with members of distant bacterial species, and this communication leads to alterations in bacterial community spatial structure and expression of virulence determinants. Continued work will seek to understand how bacteria communicate between species by observing them in their native environment, tracking their movements, and defining their repertoire of signals and molecular mechanisms necessary for response (https://limoli.lab.uiowa.edu).
NIH and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-funded projects are available to systematically understand interspecies signaling pathways that we have identified through high-throughput genetic screens. The candidate will use live-imaging techniques pioneered in our lab to visualize and track the movement of bacterial cells and will analyze changes in gene expression and dynamics of motility appendages using bacterial genetics, molecular biology, and microbial ecology. Collectively, these studies will construct a comprehensive picture of interspecies communication and community behaviors, leading to a better understanding of how interactions exacerbate human disease.
The successful candidate will assume a leadership position within the lab; set the tone for both scientific and scholarly excellence; drive forward complex, innovative and translationally impactful projects; develop and write fellowship applications; and participate in a variety of group, departmental, and journal club seminars. You will gain critical experience working in a dynamic, diverse, and supportive group environment and utilize bacterial genetics, advanced imaging, clinical studies and animal models of chronic airway disease to ask fundamental and translational research questions about polymicrobial infections. We are also highly collaborative with leaders in the fields of microbial ecology, biochemistry, theoretical/computational physics, and machine learning. As such, the training and experience you receive in the lab can be carried forward in either Academic or Industrial research settings.
Requirements:
Candidates should have recently obtained a Ph.D. (preferably within the last 2 years, and preferably in the fields of Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or Physics), or have a pending doctoral degree. Candidates should have an established record of publishing high-quality research articles, and expertise in core microbiology, molecular biology and/or biochemistry techniques including bacterial genetics and physiology. Ideally, candidates also have a basic understanding of microscopy, image analysis, programming languages (R or Python), and an eagerness to develop these skills through additional coursework, workshops and/or bootcamps.
The University of Iowa is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We are also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status
COVID-19 update: The safety and well-being of our candidates, our people and their families continues to be a top priority. Until restrictions change, interviews will be conducted virtually.