Postdoctoral Associate – bacterial predators

Florida A&M University, USA, seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join a project investigating the ecology of bacterial predators—a study including bacteriophages, protists, and Halobacteriovorax, a predatory bacterium.

The Halobacteriovorax are obligate predators with a complex life cycle and specialized growth requirements. The successful candidate will contribute to laboratory and field studies exploring predator–prey dynamics, microbial community structure, and the ecological roles of these unique microorganisms in marine systems using molecular methods such as PCR/qPCR/dPCR 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, metagenomics, whole-genome sequencing, and community analyses. They will also isolate, cultivate, and characterize these bacterial predators using specialized microbiological and microscopy-based methods, and perform field sampling in marine environments and analyze predator–prey assemblages, including bacteria, protists, and viruses.

The primary research focus of the Williams Lab and for the postdoctoral associate will be to integrate laboratory experiments, field observations, and bioinformatic analyses to understand ecological patterns and mechanisms underlying microbial interactions.

• Demonstrated experience with molecular microbial ecology, including DNA isolation, PCR, qPCR, and microbial community analysis
• Proficiency with bioinformatic tools such as QIIME 2, mothur, R, and/or Python, etc.
• Experience analyzing microbial communities using 16S rRNA sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, and whole-genome sequencing
• Strong microbiology skills, including bacterial culturing, isolation, and maintenance of culture collections
• Ability to independently perform microbial enumeration and characterization using plating, dPCR, and epifluorescence microscopy
• Experience with light and electron microscopy
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and ability to drive for fieldwork is mandatory
• A history of publications as first author
• Proficient in writing and speaking English
• Being a solid team player who desires to work to progress all team members and whose satisfaction comes from seeing the whole lab succeed.

• Prior experience working with BALOs, Bdellovibrio, or Halobacteriovorax, or bacteriophage or demonstrated interest and ability to develop expertise rapidly
• Prior postdoctoral research experience
• Experience enumerating protists and/or viruses in marine samples, particularly via flow cytometry
• Experience designing and conducting field-based microbial ecology experiments
  
  Skills in laboratory management, organization, and maintaining microbial collections
• Experience training, or mentoring students in laboratory or research settings
• Training middle school teachers (grades 7 to
  9) in laboratory and molecular methods, guiding them through a research project as part of a professional development activity for them.

• Independent, curious, and capable of developing new laboratory methods
• Comfortable working with unique and demanding microorganisms
• Strong communicators with a collaborative, team-oriented approach
• Skilled in managing data, workflows, and laboratory operations.

Currently, the position is scheduled for 2.5 years. To apply, please submit as a single PDF to henryneal.williams a cover letter describing research interests, relevant experience, and career goals and a curriculum vitae. Prior postdoctoral research experience is a plus. A Ph.D. in Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Marine Science, Molecular Biology, or a related field is required. Valid U.S. driver’s license and ability to drive for fieldwork is mandatory.