We are always looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our group!

Postdoctoral Researcher – Bacterial Genomics & Natural Products (3-Year Position)

We are hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher for a three-year position.

This position is part of an exciting project aimed at uncovering the evolutionary role of bacterial natural products in shaping communication, competition, and cooperation between fruit flies and their gut microbiomes. The fly gut microbiome includes both transient microbes and true colonizers—microbes that have evolved to stably inhabit specific hosts and produce specialized compounds essential for long-term symbiosis. Using an integrative approach that combines bacterial genomics, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and bioinformatics, this project seeks to uncover the molecular basis of beneficial host-microbe interactions. The postdoctoral researcher will lead efforts to dissect these mechanisms and contribute to a deeper understanding of symbiosis at the molecular level.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will lead the bioinformatic analysis of bacterial genomes to identify biosynthetic gene clusters and other genetic determinants involved in host-microbe interactions.

• They will integrate multi-omics datasets (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics) to investigate the molecular mechanisms of microbial symbiosis. In addition to computational work.

• The candidate will also lead efforts in molecular biology, microbiology, and analytical chemistry.

• The role also includes involvement in manuscript preparation and publication, as well as mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.

Minimum Qualifications

•  A Ph.D. in Biology or a related field is required at the time of hire.

•  No more than two (2) years since completion of the Ph.D. degree.

•  Experience in bioinformatics, bacterial genomics, microbiology, and metabolomics.

•  At least two (2) first-author, peer-reviewed publications presenting original research in a relevant scientific field.

Preferred Qualifications

•  Experience preparing bacterial DNA for long-read and short-read sequencing.

•  Experience analyzing bacterial genomics data, with a focus on biosynthetic gene cluster

• mining and phylogenomic analysis.

•  Experience purifying bacterial small molecules using analytical chemistry techniques.

•  Experience in molecular biology techniques.

•  Experience handling germ-free fruit flies.

•  Experience with basic microbiology techniques.

•  Willingness and ability to work independently and as part of a team.

•  Strong scientific writing skills.

Documents Needed to Apply

To apply, please email Karina with:

• Cover Letter describing interest in and qualification for this position.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV), including contact information for three references.

Lab Technician – Full-Time (3-Year Position)

Position Summary

We are hiring a full-time Research Professional II who will be responsible for research activities that support the overall mission of the Gutierrez lab, including working with beneficial bacteria isolates and germ-free fruit flies. Fly husbandry, microbiology skills, and basic molecular biology techniques are required. In addition, they will assist with other duties required for smooth running of the lab, including ordering supplies, training new personnel in basic bench techniques, and administering lab safety programs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Conducting scientific research, including:

• Maintaining germ-free fly stocks and managing common fly and bacterial supplies (e.g., bacterial media, fly food, etc.).

• Working independently on defined experiments, primarily in microbiology and molecular biology (e.g., setup, scheduling, data acquisition), and reporting findings to the PI.

• Demonstrating a general understanding of the research lab’s mission.

• Effectively prioritizing workload.

• Managing multiple priorities to meet defined deadlines.

• Writing and assisting the PI with laboratory manuscripts, specifically contributing to the methods, results, and figure generation sections for experiments directly performed.

Overseeing lab operations, including:

• Participating in lab meetings and other scientific seminars or meetings.

• Placing orders for materials and supplies, negotiating with vendors, and performing cost analysis for research projects.

• Collaborating with the EEB business office to ensure laboratory expenses are appropriately charged to sponsored accounts and monitoring expenditure levels to remain within awarded budgets.

• Monitoring laboratory inventory and maintaining adequate common supplies.

• Keeping the laboratory organized and maintaining all protocols in shared Google Documents.

• Ordering laboratory reagents, specialized primers, and other unique materials for experiments in alignment with grant guidelines and experimental needs.

• Serving as a knowledge resource and providing training on laboratory procedures.

• Managing and preparing the laboratory for annual biosafety inspections and other regulatory review processes.

• Administering lab safety programs, training and monitoring lab members to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, establishing environmental health and safety standards and policies, and overseeing documentation of safety-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Representing the Gutierrez Lab in interactions with faculty, lab and administrative staff, students, internal and external collaborators, postdoctoral fellows, and outside vendors.

• Responding to calls from lab members outside of routine work hours regarding lab-related questions or emergencies.

• Addressing equipment malfunctions outside of standard work hours, which may occasionally require reporting to the lab in person.

Minimum Qualifications and Work Dimensions

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional-level experience is required, along with a minimum of three years of relevant work experience; or a Master’s degree with at least one year of relevant work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Proficient in the use of computers, including software applications, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

• Independent and self-motivated.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented.

• Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities.

• Excellent oral and written communications skills.

• Demonstrated strong, positive interpersonal skills.

• Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines and within a variety of cultures.

Documents Needed to Apply

To apply, please email Karina with:

• Cover Letter describing interest in and qualification for this position.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV), including contact information for three references.