Postdoctoral Scholar - Integrative Biology - Koskella Lab

Description:
The Department of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for a Postdoctoral scholar in the Koskella Lab, in the area of disease ecology and microbiome sciences, at 100 % time with an expected start date of September 2021. Bacteriophage viruses (phages) impact microbial communities across habitats, including the host- associated microbiome, structuring both microbial composition and function. Since 2017, the Koskella lab has been developing a new urban disease ecology system that allows for temporal sampling of microbial communities from healthy and diseased tissues across a spatially structured population of Callery (‘Bradford') pear tree s infected with the agriculturally relevant pathogen Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of Fire Blight. The department is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to lead a new NSF funded project that combines culture-dependent screening and culture - independent ‘omics' approaches to explore bacteria-phage dynamics over both short (monthly) and long (yearly) time scales to better understand the ecology and evolution of phage host range, the scale of phage adaptation and bacterial counter-adaptation, and the role phages play in shaping pathogen invasion and disease. The project is based around a tight integration of research and teaching, and includes the development of a four module undergraduate research program with high-throughput, culture independent sequencing of both bacterial and viral communities to examine the role of phages in bacterial community turnover and disease in this Pear Tree system. The work will take place in the laboratory of Dr. Britt Koskella, at UC Berkeley, and will include a combination of local fieldwork and bacterial viral community profiling/'omics' approaches.

Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include field sampling of trees, microbiological culturing, extraction and analysis of both amplicon and metagenomic datasets, statistical analyses, and preparation of manuscripts for publication. In addition, the researcher will work with the PI to lead a team of up to 12 undergraduate researchers to isolate and characterize phages from the phyllosphere. There also exists ample opportunity to design and implement additional projects of mutual interest.

Minimum/Basic Qualifications required at the time of application:
PhD (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a PhD degree program (or equivalent international degree program) at the time of application.

Additional Qualifications required by position start date:
PhD (or equivalent international degree). The candidate should have no more than four years of post-degree research experience by start date. The candidate should have a track record of publication in peer reviewed journals.

Preferred Qualifications:
Given the undergraduate research component of this project, the preferred candidate would have a keen interest in integration of teaching and research and undergraduate mentoring. Moreover, preference will be given to applicants with experience in bioinformatics, microbial ecology, molecular biology, statistics, and/or disease ecology, as well as excellent writing and communication skills.

Salary:
This is a full-time position. Salary is commensurate with experience.

How to apply:
To apply, please go to the following link: http://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/JPF02889

This position will be open until filled. The anticipated start date is September 2021. The initial appointment will be one year in length with the possibility of reappointment based on performance and the availability of funding. The project is currently projected to last up to four years. Please address inquiries to Britt Koskella bkoskella@berkeley.edu.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see:
http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.

University of California Postdoctoral Scholars are exclusively represented by the
United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). The union's (UAW 5810) website is http://uaw5810.org/. Details concerning your benefits as a Postdoctoral Scholar are set forth in Article 3, "Benefits"; of the UC-UAW Local 5810 Collective Bargaining Agreement
(CBA). A copy of the CBA between the University of California and the UAW is located at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/px/index.html.

Letters of reference may be solicited for finalists. We will seek your permission before contacting your references. All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e. dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality (https://apo.berkeley.edu/ucb-confidentiality-policy) prior to submitting their letters.








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