Biological Physics & Physical Biology Seminar

Open positions and opportunities in the community

Please e-mail us with current biological physics research related opportunities in your group or department that you would like advertised here!

Postdoctoral positions at University of Pittsburgh

The Xing lab at University of Pittsburgh expects to have multiple postdoctoral positions opening. We look for applicants with the following general qualifications:

1)    Will receive or just received PhD;

2)    Strongly motivated, and eager to learn new things;

3)    Have demonstrated high productivity and independence;

4)    Collaborate well with others and show strong communication skills;

Applicants with strong computer programming and data analysis (including machine learning) background will receive favorable consideration.

 

It emerges as an exciting new field both in quantitative biology and biological physics on studying how eukaryotic cells make cell fate decisions and convert between different cell types by integrating big data analyses and mechanistic studies1. My lab has pioneered on creation of the field through developing tools and theoretical framework from chemical physics, single cell imaging, computational image analysis, and high throughput data.

 

One position is to perform combined time-lapse image analyses to extract dynamical information on cell phenotypic conversion in the framework of dynamical systems2,3. Example biological systems include cell proliferation, quiescence and senescence, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stem cell differentiation and reprogramming. Background in image analyses and computer vision can be a plus. A track record of being able to learn new things quickly is more important.

 

Another position is to combine single cell high throughput (e.g., sequencing and imaging) data analyses and mechanistic modeling4. Example problems include how cell cycle couples to various differentiation processes, and associated gene regulations. Background in single cell genomics data analyses and/or mechanistic studies of cellular processes can be a plus.

 

For application, please send c.v. and a brief research plan indicating research interest on integrating quantitative biological physics and big data analyses to Dr Jianhua Xing at xing1@pitt.edu. Three reference letters should also be arranged to be sent directly.


More information about the Xing lab,

https://www.csb.pitt.edu/Faculty/xing/

https://github.com/xing-lab-pitt

https://www.addgene.org/Jianhua_Xing/

 

 

 

1.     Xing, J. Reconstructing data-driven governing equations for cell phenotypic transitions: integration of data science and systems biology. Physical Biology 19, 061001 (2022).

2.     Wang, W., Poe, D., Yang, Y., Hyatt, T. & Xing, J. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition proceeds through directional destabilization of multidimensional attractor. eLife 11, e74866 (2022).

3.     Wang, W. et al. Live-cell imaging and analysis reveal cell phenotypic transition dynamics inherently missing in snapshot data. Science Advances 6, eaba9319 (2020).

4.     Qiu, X. et al. Mapping Transcriptomic Vector Fields of Single Cells. Cell 185, 690-711 (2022).



 


 

Senior Research Scientist at Virginia Tech

A senior research scientist is sought to manage the newly established Center for Disease Mechanics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. This position provides an excellent opportunity to work in a world-class interdisciplinary environment as part of a team of experimental and computational scientists from engineering and biology, and in close collaboration with clinicians.

The position entails interacting with faculty across multiple departments, managing collaborative interdisciplinary research projects, facilitating large-scale research proposal development, and actively liaising with funding agencies. An attractive compensation package commensurate with experience will include competitive benefits and a retirement package offered by Virginia Tech. The position is available starting as soon as possible and is eligible for annual renewal contingent upon satisfactory progress and continued funding.

Qualifications

 

Application Process

Interested candidates should assemble a single pdf document containing a (1) cover letter outlining how this position relates to the candidate’s experience, research interests, and career objectives, (2) curriculum vitae with a complete list of publications, (3) name and contact information of three academic references, and (4) key first-author manuscripts that have been published or accepted for publication. 

Contact Professor Amrinder Nain (nain@vt.edu) for further information or submit a single .pdf file of application materials to Professor Nain with “Research scientist application” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until it is filled


 


 

APS DBIO workshop: Applying for a faculty job in biophysics

From both sides of the table: Applying for a faculty job in biophysics, on July 27, Noon- 1:30 PM ET.
Attendees should register at

 (https://apsphysics.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qce-oqzkrGNP_d6pjeg1TR1tZKTUKD9OW)

 More information on the workshop series can be found here

https://engage.aps.org/dbio/resources/workshops-networking


Assistant Professor of Biophysics & Chemistry at Purdue University

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Purdue University seeks applications for an academic year appointment of an Assistant Professor in the area of experimental biological physics. All areas of experimental biological physics will be considered. The successful candidate will have a joint appointment in both the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Chemistry (75:25 appointment). We are interested in an outstanding scientist with an established track record, a commitment to leading a preeminent research program, and a clear vision for future innovation. Current research efforts within the two departments apply a variety of experimental and theoretical techniques to investigate intracellular and molecular dynamics, cell growth, cell sensing, functions of the proteins, and ultra-fast electron and energy transfer dynamics in a variety of systems.

More information can be found here

https://www.physics.purdue.edu/about/positions/base_open_positions_page2.html

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Computational and Systems Biology 

We invite applications for a tenure-track or tenured Faculty position at the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Full Professor level, in the Department of Computational and Systems Biology (DCSB) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. We seek creative individuals who can develop a cutting-edge research program and lead collaborative research initiatives on the development and use of novel computational models, physical sciences and/or engineering methodologies, machine learning algorithms and quantitative analysis and dissemination tools to address current challenges in computational and systems biology research areas and to facilitate the translation of basic research into clinical applications.

 

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated leadership and interdisciplinary research accomplishments in one or more of the following areas: molecular-to-cellular systems biology, including modeling complex systems structure/morphology, dynamics and function using structural, image and data from latest technology, including cryo-electron microscopy, single molecule experiments and live cell imaging; synthetic biology and novel biotechnology; translational science bridging genomics, systems biology and clinical applications; drug-or therapy-discovery and development using structure, genomics and/or systems pharmacology and applications to precision medicine; evolutionary systems biology; synthetic developmental biology including organoids, organs on a chip, and constructing multicellular systems with synthetic/engineered components. While the position requires interest and accomplishments in computational and/or theoretical biological sciences, the successful candidate may also seek to start a wet lab to investigate important problems using both computational and molecular methods. 

 

The level of appointment and salary will be commensurate with qualifications, experience, and responsibilities. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to mentor students in multiple interdisciplinary graduate programs including the Joint Carnegie Mellon University–University of Pittsburgh Ph.D. Program in Computational Biology, the Integrative Systems Biology Ph.D. Program, and the Computational Biomedicine and Biotechnology Master’s Program. We especially seek candidates who have a documented interest in mentoring and other activities to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our department and in general.

 

Applicants should email the following materials to Nancy Linderman (nml@pitt.edu): (1) a cover letter, (2) a CV, (3) a research statement, (4) a teaching and mentoring statement, (5) a statement describing the applicant’s accomplishments and plans for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and (6) a list of three references from whom letters may be requested. Review of applications will begin on November 22, 2021.

 

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.

 

Several PhD positions available at the University of Goettingen, Germany

Are you interested in doing your PhD, or a postdoc working our research group? We are looking for new group members with interest and possibly previous experience in any of the following areas: biophysics (cells and proteins), microscopy, x-ray imaging and scattering, microfluidics. Please see our webpage (www.uni-goettingen.de/koesterlab) and contact sarah.koester@phys.uni-goettingen.de for more information!

 

Possible research topics would be:

 

A)    Mechanics of cytoskeletal filaments (microtubules, actin filaments, intermediate filaments)

B)    Interactions between synaptic vesicles and the cytoskeleton

C)    X-ray imaging of biological cells


(09/15/2021)