G/R15938P

PostDoc AC-Kissinger

VPR-Center Trop Emerg Glob Dis

The University of Georgia (UGA), a land-grant and sea-grant university with statewide commitments and responsibilities, is the state’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). UGA is currently ranked among the top 15 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA was founded in 1785 by the Georgia General Assembly as the first state-chartered University in the country. UGA employs approximately 1,800 full-time instructional faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 39,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 9,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens.

The Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD) at the University of Georgia is one of the largest international centers of research focused on diseases of poverty. Researchers and students work together on some of the most important causes of human suffering around the world, including malaria, schistosomiasis, African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, and filariasis.

CTEGD.UGA.EDU

Employee

Commensurate with Experience

03/01/2022

01/10/2022

Yes

Athens Area

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

PLEASE NOTE: On December 7, 2021, the federal District Court for the Southern District of Georgia issued a preliminary injunction against enforcing the vaccine requirement for
Federal Contractors pending further review. As a result, the requirements of the Executive Order and associated guidance, including the vaccination requirement for covered contractor employees, are currently not in effect.

The University of Georgia is a Federal Contractor as defined by Presidential Executive Order 14042 and subject to the requirement that Federal Contractors must ensure that all covered employees, including those working remotely, are fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022. You may be required to show proof of your fully vaccinated status at the time of your start date, or have received a medical or religious exemption from the fully vaccinated requirement at the time of your start date. For more information regarding the Federal Contractor fully vaccinated employment requirement please visit https://coronavirus.uga.edu/executive-order/ or call (706) 542-2222.

Receive fecal DNA samples or in some cases stool samples from international collaborators, isolate genomic DNA from the received stool samples, purify Cryptosporidium oocysts, perform PCR and qPCR for enteric pathogen detection, perform Illumina library preparation and hybrid capture on select samples that pass quality control, organize sequencing, and perform analysis. Help train and supervise technicians to do the same. The candidate will have to coordinate and collaborate with other project personnel to accomplish these duties.

40

Coordinate the research flow with the project’s collaborators, maintain records of lab research, download sequence data, and perform bioinformatic analyses to verify quality of sequence data.

25

Analyze experimental data to understand the population genetic structure and host specificity of Cryptosporidium.

10

Present the research at internal and external meetings, and publish the findings in peer-reviewed journals. Occasional domestic and international travel may be needed to meet with collaborators or present research.

10

Other duties as assigned which may include educational, instructional, and outreach activities.

5

Instructor of Record contributing to courses such as Environmental Microbiology or Fundamentals of Environmental Health Science.

10

Post-Doctoral Associate AC

1.00

A post-doctoral research position is available immediately in the Kissinger Research Group. This Post-doctoral fellow position will provide support for the remaining ~2.5 years of the 4-yr project NIH R01 – “Capturing the genomic variation present in Cryptosporidium and cryptosporidiosis”. The major focus of the project is to conduct innovative research through capture enrichment whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics analyses of the resulting sequence to understand the global population genetic structure and variation during outbreak and seasonal scenarios of human-infecting Cryptosporidium which is the 2nd leading cause of severe diarrhea and mortality in young children in Africa and Southern Asia. Qualified candidates should submit a detailed curriculum vitae, including descriptions of laboratory experience, responsibilities, and/or pertinent recent coursework; a short cover letter outlining research interests, research experience, and future goals; and the names of at least 3 scientists or faculty as references (with contact information, including e-mail addresses and phone numbers).

Highly motivated candidates who have a strong background in molecular biology, genomics, computational biology, and disease ecology research are encouraged to apply. Candidates will hold a Ph.D. in parasitology, molecular biology, genetics, or another appropriate discipline and have less than three years of postdoctoral experience. Candidates may need to meet the criteria for work eligibility at the USDA, namely being a US citizen or permanent resident.

Experience with molecular and computational analysis of whole genome sequence data.
Experience with molecular biology experiments including PCR, qPCR, DNA purification, and library preparation for next generation sequencing.
Experience with sterile technique.
Experience working with pathogenic protists (biosafety level 2).
Well-developed oral and written communication skills and abilities to work both independently and collaboratively.

Sitting at a desk for extended periods of time; standing and bending over for wet lab bench work; light lifting up to 25 lbs.

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below. For assistance with your application or login, please email hrweb@uga.edu.

Rachel Ankirskiy

jckadmin@uga.edu