Post-Doctoral Associate, JIFSAN​/Microbiome Center

Job Overview

The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) at the University of Maryland (UMD), in collaboration with the UMD Center of Excellence in Microbiome Sciences, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in food safety microbiology and microbial genomics. The role is for a recent PhD graduate with expertise in both computational and experimental biology. The successful candidate will join interdisciplinary teams led by Professors Mihai Pop (Computer Science) and Jianghong Meng (Nutrition and Food Science).

The research focuses on foodborne pathogens, microbial genomics, microbiome science, and AI‑driven data analysis for food safety applications. Professor Pop’s laboratory develops bioinformatics tools such as Bowtie, Meta Carvel, and meta genome

Seq, and current projects examine strain‑level variation and database accuracy in microbial communities. This position offers an opportunity to engage in cutting‑edge research, publish findings, and collaborate across multiple scientific disciplines.

• Conduct independent and collaborative research projects, designing, executing, and troubleshooting experiments (45%).
• Apply computational and experimental approaches to investigate foodborne pathogens and microbial genomics, utilizing AI and big data analysis tools (20%).
• Develop and optimize scientific methodologies and analytical techniques relevant to research objectives (15%).
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across microbiology, bioinformatics, and food safety research areas (15%).
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer‑reviewed journals and present findings at national and international scientific conferences (5%).

• Ph.D. degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of experience in computational biology, bioinformatics, genomics, or AI applications in biological research.
• 1–3 years of experimental laboratory experience in microbiology and/or molecular biology.
• Strong interest and background in microbial genomics and food safety microbiology.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, think critically, and maintain strong organizational and scientific writing skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

• 1–3 years of experience working with microbial genome sequencing and comparative genomics.
• Familiarity with machine learning or AI applications for biological data analysis.
• Experience handling large‑scale biological datasets and high‑performance computing environments (1–3 years).

Predominantly sedentary work. Occasional lifting up to 20 pounds and repetitive wrist, hand, or finger motions are required. Good visual acuity is needed for data analysis, reading, and computer use.

None required.

Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, List of References (name, phone number, and email), Unofficial Transcript, Writing Sample, and Code Samples.

Regular Faculty: $65,000 – $75,000.

Standard benefits for regular faculty are provided. For detailed information, refer to the university benefits overview.

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

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