Postdoctoral Scholar- Immunology, Microbiology Toxicology, Grembi Lab

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

The Grembi Lab at Penn State University is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar with expertise in immunology, microbiology, toxicology, or a related field to join our team studying the ecology of the human small intestine.

Our work focuses on environmental enteropathy, a subclinical condition characterized by intestinal inflammation and increased permeability that is thought to contribute to childhood undernutrition and stunting. We use an interdisciplinary approach combining microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, computational biology, and epidemiology to understand how microbial communities in the small intestine develop, interact with the host, and respond to environmental conditions, with an increasing focus on environmental contaminants.

Our team is based at Penn State’s main campus in State College, Pennsylvania (a.k.a. Happy Valley), a welcoming college town with a remarkably low cost of living and easy access to outdoor recreation. Penn State’s position as a leading R1 research university means you’ll also have access to cutting-edge technology, a vibrant research community within the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the One Health Microbiome Center, and numerous opportunities for local and global collaborations.

The Postdoctoral Scholar will:

• Independently initiate, execute, and complete interdisciplinary research involving immunology, toxicology, molecular biology, and biochemistry
• Communicate research findings via presentations at conferences and peer-reviewed manuscripts
• Contribute to grant proposals and fellowship applications, gaining experience in research funding and scientific writing
• Mentor and train graduate and undergraduate students

Applicants should have a PhD in Immunology, Microbiology, Biology, Toxicology, Biochemistry, or a related field, along with excellent oral and written communication skills and at least one first-author publication.

Strong candidates will have experience in at least two of the following areas: multiparameter flow cytometry; single-cell, RNA sequencing, or shotgun metagenomics data generation and analysis; intestinal organoids, primary human cells, or animal models of gut inflammation.

Candidates should be highly motivated and creative, with a genuine interest in global health.

We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable lab environment and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. You will benefit from close mentorship from the PI and significant autonomy over your project. This position offers an excellent platform to develop skills in data science and statistics, with flexibility to tailor your training to align with your professional goals.

Start date is flexible between September 2026 and January 2027. This is a limited-term position funded for one year with the potential to extend based on performance and funding.

Applicants are required to have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in an appropriate field and be able to provide evidence that all requirements have been met for completion of the Ph.D. prior to the effective date of hire.

Interested candidates should submit an online application at Penn State’s Job Posting Board, and should upload the following application materials electronically:

• CV
• a recent manuscript they were a primary author on (preprints are fine)
• a brief statement of their research interests and how they envision pursuing those on the Grembi lab
• contact information for 2-3 professional references

System limitations allow for a total of 5 documents (5mb per document) as part of your application. Please combine materials to meet the 5-document limit.

Employment with the University will require…