Postdoctoral Associate - Pediatrics - Dr. Eric Nelson's Laboratory (55389)

Location:
Gainesville, FL
Open Date:
Nov 12, 2019
Description:

A postdoctoral research position is available in the laboratory of Eric Nelson, M.D., Ph.D. at the Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida. The overall goal of our laboratory is to develop better methods to improve the care, diagnosis and management of patients during large-scale diarrheal disease outbreaks. Our model system is cholera and our primary collaborative field sites are in Bangladesh and Haiti. In the field, our research focuses on identifying and characterizing key selective pressures that drive disease severity and transmission. At the University of Florida, we test hypotheses derived from the field studies in animal models of infection and transmission.

The current available project lies at the physiologic interface between host and pathogen. Specifically, the first phase of research involves characterizing the microbiota of human diarrheal disease samples and identifying antimicrobial factors important to pathogenesis and transmission (e.g. antibiotics by LC/MS and bacteriophage). Samples will be characterized for markers of small bowel overgrowth, environmental enteropathy, and innate/ acquired immunity dysfunction. Descriptive findings will then be evaluated for causation in animal models using genetic manipulations of pathogens of interest (e.g. Vibrio cholerae). The second phase will involve two clinical studies. The first is to study the impact of single-dose antibiotics on the microbiota inside and outside the gastrointestinal tract during cholera infection. The second study involves assessing a novel point of care diagnostic for V. cholerae. The clinical studies will require intermittent field research.

The position is available as soon as possible. The position is at least one year and extension is contingent on satisfactory performance. Although this is a funded position, the candidate is encouraged to apply for additional funding.

Laboratory information is available at: https://nelson.research.pediatrics.med.ufl.edu/resources/

Qualifications:

Ph.D. and at least 3 first-author publications in an indexed journal are required. A molecular microbiology skill-set AND an interest in global health are required. Experience with next generation sequencing, bioinformatics (R), immunology, gene deletion/ complementation in bacteria, animal models of infection, project management and field research are desired.

Application Instructions:

Email inquiries using the subject "Post Doc" to Dr. Eric Nelson (eric.nelson@ufl.edu) are welcome; however, applications must be submitted online.

Review of applications will begin on November 22, 2019 and will continue until a sufficient applicant pool has been established.

Applications should include a cover letter/letter of interest including a statement of your research accomplishments and interests, curriculum vitae, and list of three references.

Selected candidate will be required to provide three letters of recommendation and an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered "official" if a designation of "Issued to Student" is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approval by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://naces.org/.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

#category=35