Post-Doc Research Associate

UNC-Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC

2d

About The Position

The laboratory of Dr. Tessa Andermann seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher for an NIH R01-funded research program investigating antimicrobial tolerance and resistance in Enterobacterales in the gut microbiome. The researcher will lead a project integrating classical microbiology and genomics to characterize clinical bacterial isolates and define mechanisms underlying β-lactam tolerance. The role requires advanced bench microbiology skills and a strong interest in bacterial pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance.

The researcher will work independently to design, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments with minimal supervision. They will present findings at lab meetings and scientific conferences and contribute to manuscripts and grant progress reports. Depending on interest and experience, the researcher may mentor graduate and undergraduate students and help shape the project’s scientific direction.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience with aseptic technique and bacterial culture, including growth and maintenance of Gram-negative organisms.
• Experience with antimicrobial susceptibility testing and/or time-kill (kinetic bactericidal) assays.
• Experience in microbial bioinformatics, including working in a Unix/command-line environment and analyzing whole-genome sequencing data, including genome assembly, annotation, and detection of resistance determinants.
• Experience using at least one scripting language, such as Python, R, or Bash.
• Ability to work independently designing, troubleshooting, and managing a research project with minimal supervision.
• A record of scientific productivity, including peer-reviewed publications, commensurate with career stage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales or other clinical bacterial isolates.
• Familiarity with BSL-2 practices and safe handling of clinical or pathogenic organisms.
• Knowledge of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, such as β-lactamases and carbapenemases, efflux, and porin loss, and of mobile genetic elements.
• Molecular biology experience, including PCR/qPCR, cloning, and plasmid isolation and characterization.
• Experience with comparative genomics, phylogenetics, or bacterial genome-wide association analysis.
• Prior experience mentoring students or trainees.

Responsibilities

• Culture and maintain a collection of clinical bacterial isolates.
• Perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing and time-kill (kinetic bactericidal) assays to characterize single agents and drug combinations.
• Extract DNA and prepare samples for whole-genome sequencing.
• Analyze microbial sequencing data, including genome assembly and annotation, detection of resistance genes and mobile genetic elements, and comparative and phylogenetic analyses linking genotype to phenotype.
• Independently design, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments and manage the research project with minimal supervision.
• Present findings at lab meetings and scientific conferences.
• Contribute to manuscripts and grant progress reports.
• Depending on interest and experience, mentor graduate and undergraduate students and help shape the project’s scientific direction.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed