Description
SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT:  School of Medicine Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

POSITION TITLE:  POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW/TRAINEE

POSITION CLASSIFICATION:  RESEARCH FACULTY

RESEARCH AREA: RNA Biology
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Jagannathan Laboratory

* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers *

The University of Colorado has a requirement for COVID-19 vaccinations and full completion thereof by 9/1/21 or upon start date.  Information regarding this requirement, and exemptions can be found at:

Anschutz: https://www.ucdenver.edu/docs/librariesprovider284/default-document-library/3000-general-admission/3012---covid-19-vaccination-requirement-and-compliance.pdf?sfvrsn=4e9df3ba_2

Exemptions vary by campus location/department.

Campus/Unit-Specific Exemptions:

• Anschutz Campus – Exemptions are allowed for medical or religious reasons.
•  Consolidated/Central Services Administration – Will follow Anschutz policy on exemptions.

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus seeks individuals with demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and working environment.  We value the ability to engage effectively with students, faculty and staff of diverse backgrounds.

The laboratory of Dr. Sujatha Jagannathan seeks to hire a Postdoctoral Fellow to work on leading edge questions in RNA biology pursued as part of our research program outlined below. Our lab is in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and part of the RNA Bioscience Initiative at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Our lab studies how cells detect and degrade aberrant RNAs, and how dysregulation of this surveillance process contributes to human disease. Interested applicants may visit www.jagannathan-lab.org for more information about the lab.

The long-term goal of our research program is to understand the molecular logic governing the varying efficiency in RNA quality control and its impact on gene expression, and in turn, cellular phenotypes. The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to projects related to cellular mRNA surveillance using imaging, genome engineering, and high-throughput sequencing, as well as develop their own research direction within the lab’s general interest. Candidates will be expected to plan and execute independent work, write and submit fellowship applications (if applicable), assist in the writing and publication of experimental results, and contribute positively towards the atmosphere and culture of the lab.

Application Instructions:

Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae and the contact information for 2-3 references who are familiar with your work and can speak about your qualifications for this position. In your cover letter, please specify your long term career goals and how they will be served by your time in the Jagannathan lab. For further details or to express interest, please send an email to sujatha.jagannathan@cuanschutz.edu.  

Specific Position Duties with Percentages of Time

80%

The overall goal of the work is to identify how aberrant RNAs are identified by the NMD machinery. The techniques that the lab uses towards this program include mammalian cell culture, RNA biochemistry, nucleic acid purification and sequencing, computational biology, genome engineering, and molecular genetics. Familiarity with standard bioinformatic tools and the ability to design and write custom data analysis pipelines (preferably in Python and/or R) are preferred but not required.  However, the candidate will be expected to put effort towards gaining these skills during the course of their research. 

20%

The candidate will also assist in the preparation of manuscripts to publish their work, the preparation of grant applications, both internal and external, and the preparation of scientific data for presentation at various meetings and conferences.  The candidate will also mentor junior scientists in the lab in their scientific development.

Salary and Benefits

Salary range $53,760-$65,292. Salary is commensurate with skills and experience, as well as NIH Guidelines. 

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

The University of Colorado offers a full benefits package. Information on University benefits programs, including eligibility, is located at Employee Services.

University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks for all new employees prior to their employment.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work. Alternative formats of this ad are available upon request for persons with disabilities.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits.

Total Compensation Calculator: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/total-compensation

Diversity and Equity:

Please contact hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu for information on disability accommodations

Office of Equity: https://www1.ucdenver.edu/offices/equity

The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities and all veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Qualifications
Minimum requirements

• PhD in biology-related field

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong record of productivity as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications in internationally recognized English language journal
• The successful candidate is expected to be highly motivated, have ample scientific curiosity, have strong interpersonal skills, and be able to contribute in a positive manner to the collegial atmosphere of the laboratory and the department. 
• The candidate will be expected to direct independent research, mentor more junior lab members, and apply for independent fellowship funding.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication skills 
• Experience in molecular biology and cell culture techniques
• Experience in computational biology techniques is preferred but not required

The candidate will contribute to research involving one or more of the following

• Molecular biology and biochemistry experiments
• Cell culture involving immortalized and primary mammalian cell lines
• Generation of next-generation sequencing libraries
• Advanced imaging techniques
• Genome engineering using CRISPR-Cas9

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Job Category: Faculty
Primary Location: Aurora
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: Aug 30, 2021
Unposting Date: Ongoing