Postdoctoral Research Associate
About The Position
The postdoctoral fellow will conduct research on Campylobacter species, including C. coli, C. jejuni, and C. hepaticus. Research topics include poultry food safety, spotty liver disease, antibiotic alternatives, and host immune responses. Primary research activities will include: Collection, isolation, and characterization of field strains of Campylobacter Development of improved differential and selective culture media Design and evaluation of candidate subunit vaccines Identification and evaluation of protective compounds and antibiotic alternatives Testing candidate interventions using in vitro and in vivo challenge models to assess pathogen colonization and host immune function The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with faculty, graduate students, and technical staff in the Departments of Poultry Science and Animal Science at Texas A&M University and will collaborate with scientists from the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Poultry Science with a strong microbiology focus
- Experience conducting both basic (e.g., molecular biology, microbiome analysis, bioinformatics) and applied research (e.g., animal and industry field trials)
- Demonstrated training and proficiency in working with risk group 2 pathogens in BSL-2 and ABSL-2 facilities
- In order to be considered for this position prior to your doctoral degree being conferred, please attach a letter from your school’s official Graduate Office, Registrar’s Office or PhD Committee Chair certifying that all requirements for the doctoral degree have been met and stating the degree conferral date.
Nice To Haves
- Peer-reviewed publication record commensurate with career stage
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Interest in mentoring graduate students and contributing to collaborative publications
- Prior experience working with Campylobacter hepaticus
- Experience with biosecurity strategies and food safety interventions
- Practical understanding of the commercial poultry industry and HACCP-based food safety systems
- Experience writing or contributing to competitive grant proposals
Responsibilities
- Conduct independent and collaborative research projects
- Design and perform laboratory and animal experiments
- Analyze microbiological, molecular, microbiome, and bioinformatics data
- Contribute to manuscript preparation and publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Assist in the preparation of grant proposals and research reports
- Mentor and train graduate and undergraduate students
- Assist with preparation and maintenance of regulatory compliance documentation and protocols related to animal welfare, biosafety, and environmental health and safety.
- Coordinate with laboratory personnel to maintain inventory and procure research supplies.
Benefits
- Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
- 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
- Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
- Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
- Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
