Postdoctoral Fellowship/Research associate in development of model systems for studying amphibian-microbe symbiosis
The James Lab at the University of Michigan (www.umich.edu/~mycology) is seeking a postdoctoral fellow or research associate in the development of a model system for studying aquatic symbiosis. Research is specifically focused on the development the African dwarf frog Hymenochirus as a model host to study interactions with chytrid fungus and the skin microbiome. Applicants will work to improve husbandry practices that increase the utility of Hymenochirus for studying symbiosis, characterize and manipulate the amphibian skin microbiota, such development of a gnotobiotic system, and oversee experiments with chytrid infection to study symbiotic interactions, such as transcriptional changes of genes in the holobiont, immune responses, and host-pathogen-microbiome cell biology. Scientific areas of interest are: evolution of virulence and immunity, relationship of microbiome to host health, and microbial community ecology.
Candidates should have a PhD or MSc degree in biological sciences with prior experience working with living amphibians. The ideal candidate will have experience working with amphibians, microbes and molecular biology. The specific nature of the project can be flexible depending on the candidate’s interests and prior experience. Ideal candidates will be independent, with strong organizational skills, and interested in joining a larger team of researchers focused on development of the chytrid-frog-microbiome symbiosis. This research is part of the Aquatic Symbiosis Initiative of the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation and involves collaborations with Lillian Fritz-Laylin (http://www.fritzlaylinlab.org) and Jason Stajich (http://lab.stajich.org/home/). Opportunities for mentoring undergraduates or research associates will be provided. The initial appointment is for one year with a possibility of extension to a second year pending performance review. The expected start date is between now and the end of 2021. Review of applications will begin on May 5.
For some details about the use of the Hymenochirus model, please refer to: Jenkinson, T. S., et al. (2018). Globally invasive genotypes of the amphibian chytrid outcompete an enzootic lineage in coinfections. Proc. Roy. Soc. B. 285: 20181894.
Our lab (www.umich.edu/~mycology) pursues diverse projects in fungal biology and embraces diverse perspectives and backgrounds in STEM. The lab is in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (http://www.eeb.lsa.umich.edu/eeb/index.html), an intellectually stimulating environment in a vibrant college town (Ann Arbor, MI).
Interested applicants should email Tim James (tyjames@umich.edu) with a CV, cover letter, and the names and contact information of three references.
