Postdoctoral Scholar – Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

West Virginia University • West Virginia, WV

7h

About The Position

The Postdoctoral Scholar will support research, laboratory operations, teaching, and grant development within the School of Agriculture and Food Systems, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. The position provides shared technical support for Food Science and microbiology laboratories while conducting externally funded research in emerging areas of food science.

Research activities include digital food processing and manufacturing, including 3D food printing, and extraction and isolation of insect proteins and lipids for human food, bioenergy, and biofuel applications. The scholar will support USDA-funded research, contribute to competitive federal research and education proposals, and help implement funded educational activities.

The role also supports laboratory equipment and operations, including installation, commissioning, calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, organization, purchasing, supplies, and inventories. The scholar will develop operating procedures and provide technical training to faculty, students, and other laboratory users.

Additional duties include assisting with undergraduate and graduate Food Science instruction and student research; supporting recruitment and engagement activities; mentoring students in research methods, instrumentation, data collection and analysis, scientific writing, and presentations; and preparing manuscripts, technical reports, presentations, and other scholarly products. Other related research, instructional, and laboratory-support duties may be assigned consistent with program and project needs.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a closely related discipline, completed by the appointment start date.
• Research experience gained through doctoral training or subsequent employment in food processing, food chemistry, food microbiology, protein or lipid recovery, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience conducting laboratory experiments, operating analytical equipment, analyzing data, and preparing scientific manuscripts or technical reports.
• Knowledge of experimental design, statistical analysis, laboratory safety, and responsible research practices.
• Ability to plan and execute experiments independently, interpret results, maintain accurate records, and manage multiple project deadlines.
• Ability to operate, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and learn new analytical methods.
• Strong scientific writing and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain technical procedures to students and other laboratory users.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, and research partners and contribute to an organized, safe, and productive laboratory.
• Proficiency with software for data analysis, spreadsheets, scientific presentations, and document preparation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with 3D food printing, protein and lipid extraction or characterization, insect biomass utilization, or conversion of agricultural by-products into value-added products.
• Experience with rheology, PCR-based methods, fluorescence spectroscopy, or comparable analytical techniques; equipment troubleshooting and laboratory operations.
• Experience mentoring students, providing laboratory instruction or technical training, and contributing to peer-reviewed publications or grant proposals.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research in digital food processing and manufacturing, including 3D food printing, and extraction or isolation of insect proteins and lipids for food, bioenergy, and biofuel applications.
• Support USDA-funded research, including the Sun Grant, and contribute to competitive USDA-NIFA and other federal research proposals, including AFRI programs.
• Assist with development of USDA education proposals, including SPECA, A7801, and HEC, and implementation of funded educational activities.
• Provide shared laboratory technical support, including equipment setup, calibration, routine maintenance, troubleshooting, laboratory organization, purchasing, supplies, and inventories.
• Support installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of analytical instrumentation, including a rheometer, RT-PCR system, HORIBA Aqualog spectrofluorometer, and other Food Science laboratory equipment.
• Develop and maintain operating procedures and provide technical training and guidance to faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, and other laboratory users.
• Assist with undergraduate and graduate Food Science instruction, including laboratory preparation, demonstrations, experiential-learning activities, and student research.
• Support Food Science, School of Agriculture and Food Systems, and Davis College recruitment and engagement activities, including interactive demonstrations such as 3D food printing.
• Assist undergraduate and graduate students with research methods, instrumentation, data collection, analysis, scientific writing, presentations, and research outputs.
• Prepare manuscripts, technical reports, presentations, and other scholarly products resulting from research activities.
• Perform other related research, instructional, and laboratory-support duties consistent with the needs of the Food Science program and externally funded projects.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree