Postdoctoral Research Associate - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Postdoctoral

Department of Animal Sciences

College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

 

Short Description Summarizing Position: Full-time, 100%, (12-month), renewable appointment (contingent on funding) in microbiology/microbiome science.

Responsibilities: The Department of Animal Sciences seeks a highly motivated individual to carry out groundbreaking research projects focused on steroid metabolism by the gut and urinary microbiomes and the host-microbe interactions in prostate cancer, and gastrointestinal physiology. The successful candidate will coordinate clinical activities between UIUC and Carle Foundational Hospital, collecting biospecimens from human study subjects. The candidate will apply culturomics to isolate diverse bacteria from urinary samples, and identifying novel bacterial enzymes through functional metagenomic screens. The individual will also collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team on studies on the effect of bacterial sterol metabolism on the gastrointestinal physiology of gnotobiotic piglets. This individual will perform gnotobiotic experiments, prepare tissue samples therein and interpret metabolomics, single-cell RNA-Seq, and immunological datasets. Other aspects of these projects includes heterologous expression of bacterial enzymes for steroid biotransformations, and engineering bacteria using CRISPR-Cas9. Responsibilities will also include mentoring graduate students, and interacting with undergraduate students. The successful candidate will participate in teaching a few lectures each year in biochemistry and/or gastrointestinal microbiology.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.

Qualifications: Ph.D. degree in Animal Sciences, Microbiology, Microbiome Sciences, Biochemistry, or a closely related field. A commitment to research and interest in gaining additional experience in grantsmanship.

Proposed Start Date: November 15, 2021. This position is available immediately but the start date is negotiable.

Salary: The Postdoctoral Research Associate is a full-time, benefits-eligible position appointed on a 12-month service basis. The initial appointment is for one year with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Location: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Resources: Successful candidates will be provided with office space, and excellent laboratory space and access to core facilities such as the W. M. Keck Center for Comparative and Functional Genomics, Rodent Gnotobiotic Facility, Mass Spectrometry Core, and the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center. The Department of Animal Sciences and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) (http://www.aces.illinois.edu/) are widely recognized for excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research, outreach, and international programs. Potential collaborations exist and are encouraged both within Animal Sciences and outside of the department through the Cancer Center at Illinois, Microbiome Systems Initiative, Food Science & Human Nutrition, Microbiology, Veterinary Medicine, Physics, and others. Additional information regarding the department can be found at www.ansc.illinois.edu.

Application Procedures: Please e-mail your cover letter, curriculum vitae, a research statement and the names and contact information of three references by Nov 15, 2021 to Jason Ridlon, Department of Animal Sciences, jmridlon@illinois.edu..

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Convictions are not a bar to employment. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

Downloads