Postdoctoral Associate - Biology

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The University of Miami's College of Arts and Sciences has an exciting opportunity for a full time Post Doctoral Associate to work in Coral Gables, FL.

The Post Doctoral Associate performs scientific research and studies under the supervision of managing staff. Moreover, the Post Doctoral Associate promotes institutional recognition through literal contributions to the scientific community.

The Wilson Lab seeks a Postdoctoral Associate for an NSF-funded project testing the hypothesis that mTORC1 acts as a master regulator of the aphid/Buchnera endosymbiosis. Aphids house Buchnera in specialized bacteriocytes and must coordinate bacterial population growth with their own development and reproduction across generations. We are asking whether a conserved nutrient-sensing pathway is the mechanism that makes that coordination possible — a question at the intersection of cell biology and the evolution that has not been addressed directly in any insect system.

The position is primarily laboratory-based, with a substantial computational component, and will be carried out as part of a collaborative research team.

Candidates from any relevant background are encouraged to apply, whether or not they have previously worked on insects or symbiosis. What matters is curiosity about how endosymbioses are regulated and a willingness to work in a system where some of the tools are still being built. The successful candidate will join the Wilson Lab within the Host-Microbe Interactions (HoMI) Laboratory, which is part of the Symbiosis@UM cluster within the Department of Biology, on the Coral Gables Campus of the University of Miami.

What the position offers
The Postdoctoral Associate will contribute to publications as first author, have the opportunity to co-mentor undergraduate researchers, and receive support for conference travel. Candidates who wish to pursue independent fellowship funding are encouraged to do so and will be supported with mentoring plans, letters, and feedback on drafts. The University of Miami provides institutional access to career development resources for postdoctoral scholars.

To apply
Please submit a CV and a cover letter, including the names of three references. In the cover letter, describe your fit for the position and name one specific question about this system that you would want to answer, and how you would approach it. A full list of Wilson Lab publications is available on Google Scholar under Alex C C Wilson.

Core responsibilities:

• Conducts research on specific areas of study as assigned.
• Prepares research reports and technical papers for publishing.
• Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories.
• Maintains substantial knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories.
• Develops advanced analytical models and systems and provides solutions and analyses to support strategic and tactical decisions.
• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

Core Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in cell biology, developmental biology, evolutionary biology or a related field at time of hire.
• Hands-on experience with confocal microscopy.
• Competence in applied statistics.
• A record of peer-reviewed publication.
• The ability to advance a project with limited day-to-day supervision, and to work productively in a multidisciplinary group.
• Experience analyzing high-throughput sequencing data preferred.
• Microdissection and microinjection of insects preferred.
• RNA-seq from small or dissected tissue samples preferred.
• ​Insect performance and life-history assays preferred.
• ​Learning Agility: Ability to learn new procedures, technologies, and protocols, and adapt to changing priorities and work demands.
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others and contribute to a team environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in using office software, technology, and relevant computer applications.
• Communication: Strong and clear written and verbal communication skills for interacting with colleagues and stakeholders.

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