Summary

The Laboratory of Dr. Buck Samuel within the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX is seeking to fill a NASA Grant-funded Postdoctoral Researcher position on host-microbiome interactions.

APPLICATION MATERIALS: a cover letter (1-2 pages) detailing reasons for interest in the position that highlights relevant experience and interests; CV; and contact info for 3+ references.

Job Duties

• Studies the impact of the gut microbiome on the integrative physiology of genetically diverse invertebrates:
  • This work pioneers the use of genetically diverse hosts, newly built microbiomes, and innovative phenotyping tools that should break new ground in understanding host-microbiome interactions in space-flight.
  • A rich repository of transcriptomic/sequencing data of microbiomes, invertebrates; tissue-level data of gut/muscle/nerve; and whole-animal functional imagery data will be available to the scientific community to generate new hypotheses on individual specific microbiome-driven response in space-flight.
  • This flight project lays the ground work for studying the importance of the microbiome on the Moon enabling U.S. to lead in deep space exploration. Collaborators/PIs: Monica Driscoll (Rutgers), Nate Szewczyk (Ohio University), and Siva Vanapalli (Texas Tech). Successful candidates will participate in development of innovative approaches to identification of these host genetic networks and employ a broad range of molecular and systems-level techniques across disciplines.
  • They will also join a dynamic group of microbial ecologists, microbiologists, virologists and immunologists within the Center as well as engage with collaborators at NASA, Texas Tech, Rutgers and the University of Ohio.

Minimum Qualifications

• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
• No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in molecular biology, genetics, bioengineering, systems biology or related field.
• Clear and effective communication skills.
• Scientific creativity, rigor, and independence in research.
• Research experience and/or demonstrated interest in host-microbial interactions.
• Experience with a genetic system (C. elegans, E. coli, yeast, drosophila, zebrafish, etc.).
• Experience with analysis of quantitative datasets generated by high-throughput sequencing, systems biology and/or bioinformatic/quantitative skills