Open Post Doc Position in Soil Microbiome Activity
The laboratory of Microbial Ecology (Laboratoire Ecologie Microbienne, LEM, https://www.ecologiemicrobiennelyon.fr/ ) at the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL) in France accelerates leading research in environmental microbial ecology and evolution. One Ph.D.-level position for a Postdoctoral Scholar is available in support of a new European Research Council Consolidator Award: “MicroRescue: Resolving mechanisms of microbiome rescue to promote resilience to climate change”. The position is funded by the UCBL AAP ETOILES and is under the direct supervision of Dr. Ashley Shade (https://ashley17061.wixsite.com/shadelab).
We seek a motivated researcher to advance research to quantify soil microbiome activity in response to climate change. The focus will be on understanding the continuum of soil bacterial activity and determining active microbiome responses to climate-associated stressors. Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in microbial or molecular sciences, ecology/evolution, environmental sciences or a related field.
The successful candidate will have experience in flow cytometry with bacterial cells and in microbiome sequencing. They will also have a working knowledge of bioinformatic and statistical analyses of microbiome sequence data. They also will have experience in optimizing or extending existing molecular/microbiological protocols, including use of appropriate controls. In addition, experience with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), biorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT), or experience with other methods of bacterial or microbiome activity discrimination (stable isotope probing, active cell staining, RNA:DNA) be viewed highly favorably. Experience with using flow cytometry with environmental samples, particularly soils or sediments, also will be viewed favorably.
The successful candidate will be able to write and execute code in R, and either experience with or openness to using GitHub or similar for code version control. They will have strong oral and written communication skills in English. In addition, they will be able to work independently and flexibly, as well as to operate harmoniously as part of a team. Additional experiences that will be considered favorably include awareness of standards in open science for microbiome research, including reproducible analyses, metadata curation, and public data deposition.
Our new postdoctoral team member will enjoy a vibrant research group, access to excellent research facilities and platforms at the UCBL and a project team that is committed to high scientific integrity, open and reproducible science, and promoting inclusivity. LEM boasts over 70 permanent microbial ecologists collaborating among eight teams with five technical platforms (genomics, natural products, functional assays). This project will be hosted by the LEM team “Bacterial efflux and environmental resistance” and collaborating with the team “Rhizo.”
The position is for two years with possibility for extension. We offer a flexible start date but aim to fill the position as soon as possible. Applicants should submit in English, 1) a current curriculum vitae; 2) a cover letter describing their interests and how their skills and experiences align with the position's needs; 3) contact information for three professional references. Applications will be accepted via email to ashley.shade AT cnrs.fr with the subject line “Postdoc Application: Soil Microbiome Activity”. The position will remain open until filled.