Postdoctoral Research Associate

State of Virginia • Blacksburg, VA

109d • $53,550 - $65,029

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled individual to join a collaboration between the Senger and Wright research groups as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The successful candidate will play a central role in a multidisciplinary project aimed at engineering programmable CRISPRai and optogenetic control systems and developing predictive metabolic models for the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. This position offers a unique opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and systems biology with applications in sustainable biomanufacturing. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of a strain-engineering platform that enables wavelength-specific optical regulation of feedstock catabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis. This includes building and refining a genome-scale metabolic model of Y. lipolytica, developing optogenetic and CRISPR-based logic circuits, and using Raman spectroscopy to monitor cellular responses and validate model predictions. The work will directly inform the design of multiplexed strains capable of efficiently converting diverse feedstocks into valuable bioproducts.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Synthetic Biology, Metabolic Engineering, Systems Biology, Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, or a related field.
• Ph.D. must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining.
• Strong background in molecular biology and genetic engineering of eukaryotic microbes.
• Experience with synthetic biology tools such as modular cloning, CRISPR/Cas systems, and transcriptional regulation.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Yarrowia lipolytica or other non-model yeasts.
• Expertise in optogenetics, light-controlled gene expression systems, and photoreceptors.
• Familiarity with metabolic modeling (e.g., COBRA methods), genome-scale modeling, or flux balance analysis.
• Experience with Raman spectroscopy, flow cytometry, or single-cell analysis tools.
• Competence in bioinformatics tools for model refinement or omics integration.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of a strain-engineering platform for Yarrowia lipolytica.
• Build and refine a genome-scale metabolic model of Y. lipolytica.
• Develop optogenetic and CRISPR-based logic circuits.
• Use Raman spectroscopy to monitor cellular responses and validate model predictions.
• Design multiplexed strains for efficient conversion of diverse feedstocks into bioproducts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees