Postdoctoral Scholar-Fixed Term
About The Position
A postdoctoral scholar position is available in the laboratories of Dr. Sean Crosson and Dr. Andrew Olive in the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology at Michigan State University. The position is available starting within six months with two years of funding guaranteed through a recent award from the MSU Foundation Postdoctoral Scholars Program. There is a possibility of an extension based on progress and performance. The main project is to work on cutting-edge research to understand the host-pathogen interactions and to define protective/pathologic host responses following pulmonary exposure to Brucella abortus, the causative agent of brucellosis, a key pathogen of livestock and humans. Further opportunities to pursue projects related to other pulmonary pathogens including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Non-tuberculous Mycobacterium like Mycobacterium abscessus, as well as Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Staphylococcus aureus are also available. These parallel projects will ensure the development of independent projects to support the long-term career goals of the applicant. Generally, the project will center around leveraging bacterial and mammalian genetic approaches that were recently optimized in our laboratories, including barcoded transposon-sequencing of B. abortus, and new genetically tractable models of lung resident macrophages from distinct mammalian species including mice, humans, and cows. The applicant will pursue projects related to early responses following exposure in the lungs and defining their impact on subsequent inflammation, bacterial control, adaptive immune responses, and chronic disease. This is a full-time, 12-month fixed-term position with reappointment contingent on satisfactory performance and available funding. As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission. With this commitment, the University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches.
Requirements
- PhD in the area of microbiology/immunology/molecular biology or a related field
- Strong background in genetics (either host or bacterial)
- Strong quantitative and communication skills
Nice To Haves
- Previous experience working in a BSL3
- Experience with Fluorescence activated cell sorting
- Experience with genome-wide genetic screens
- Experience with host responses to infection
- Experience with next generation sequencing
Responsibilities
- Design and conduct experiments independently
- Clearly document results for use in presentations, manuscripts and grants
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
