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.