The Martin (https://organismalbiology.weebly.com) and Jiang labs (https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/gh/ghidr/genomics/researchers/rays-jiang) at the University of South Florida are seeking to hire 1 postdoctoral scholar to perform comparative ecological immunology work. The individual will work on an NSF-funded research project, in collaboration with the Downs lab at Hamilton College (https://sites.google.com/site/cynthiajdowns/home) investigating how the architecture of the immune system is affected by body mass across terrestrial vertebrates in the College of Public Health. Successful candidates will be part of interdisciplinary programs focusing investigating how body size constrains microbial killing responses and the inflammatory response across terrestrial vertebrates. Projects will involve managing student technicians, performing microbiocidal assays, and analyzing data from the microbiocidal assay using techniques and a management system already in place. During the second stage, the post-doc will help conduct a transcriptomics study of induced immune responses in primate blood, which will involve computational analysis, integration and modeling of large-scale data sets.
USF is one of the 10 largest academic institutions in the United States and offers unique opportunities for collaboration with research institutions in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to the above projects,, the post-doc will also be able to ask questions within the larger study framework. The post-doc will be located at University of South Florida but will also travel occasionally to Hamilton College to work with undergraduate researchers and travel to primate research facilities to collect blood samples. Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree in a degree related to integrative organismal biology, and should have experience working with large biological data sets, particularly transcriptomics data. Preferred Qualifications: Proficient in Program R particularly for comparative analyses, experience with transcriptomics methods, and experience with benchwork in ecoimmunology. Record of academic and research achievements. Candidates must be highly motivated, think independently and work as part of integrated multidisciplinary research teams. Candidates must be willing to travel for sample collection. To apply: Complete an online application. Visit http://employment.usf.edu and search for Job ID 18722. Applicants should submit a current curriculum vitae and cover letter. Application review will begin on November 15, 2018, and will continue until the position is filled. Affirmative Action: USF is an equal opportunity, equal access academic institution that embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace.