Postdoctoral Scholar-Fixed Term

Postdoctoral Scholar-Fixed Term

The Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to conduct cutting-edge research in environmental genomics with a focus on metabolic pathways and biogeochemical cycling in marine systems. The scholar will analyze large-scale omics datasets (amplicon, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics) to investigate microbial contributions to ocean nutrient cycles.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Computational analysis and interpretation of environmental genomics datasets
• Development and application of bioinformatic pipelines for metabolic reconstruction and biogeochemical inference
• Leading manuscript preparation and publication of research findings
• Contributing to grant writing and proposal development
• Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in data analysis and research design
• Participating in collaborative, interdisciplinary research initiatives

The successful candidate will be expected to work independently while contributing meaningfully to a team-oriented environment. The candidate will lead data-driven research projects, mentor students, and contribute to grant development in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research setting.

The initial appointment is for a one‑year term and is not guaranteed to continue beyond that period. Any extension would be contingent upon operational needs, available funding, and satisfactory performance.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree:
Terminal
-Ph.D. in Microbiology, Marine Science, Environmental Genomics, Bioinformatics, Ecology, Oceanography, or a closely related field.

Minimum Requirements include:

• Demonstrated expertise in environmental genomics or microbial ecology
• Demonstrated experience with bioinformatic analysis of high-throughput sequencing data
• Proficiency in R, Python, or other relevant computational tools
• Evidence of scholarly productivity (peer-reviewed publications)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Desired Qualifications include:

• Experience working with marine or oceanographic datasets
• Knowledge of microbial metabolic pathways and biogeochemical cycles
• Experience with metagenomic assembly, binning, and genome-resolved analyses
• Experience mentoring undergraduate or graduate students
• Prior participation in grant writing or fellowship applications
• Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary research teams

Required Application Materials:

• Cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three professional references

Review of Applications Begins On: 05/29/2026

Remote Work Statement: MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.