Post Doc (6)

University of Massachusetts Medical School; Bloomingdale (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School seeks a motivated postdoctoral fellow for the Alkema Laboratory in the Department of Neurobiology to study gut-brain communication using C. elegans and microbial interactions.

The successful candidate will develop an independent research direction, contribute to manuscript and grant writing, and join a collaborative environment with access to advanced imaging and computational resources.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in neurobiology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, metabolism, bioinformatics, or a related field.
• Peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong experimental, analytical, and scientific-writing skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Interest in neuromodulation, behavior, or microbiome-host communication.

Responsibilities

• Postdoctoral duties include manuscript and grant writing and developing independent research directions.
• Collaborate with lab members and contribute to ongoing projects in gut-brain communication and neuromodulation.

Skills

Experimental skills

Analytical thinking

Scientific writing

Independent & collaborative

Education

Ph.D. in neurobiology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, metabolism, bioinformatics or related field

Job description

Overview

Postdoctoral position in Gut-Brain CommunicationAlkema Laboratory | Department of Neurobiology | UMass Chan Medical School

We're looking for a motivated, creative postdoctoral fellow to join the Alkema laboratory in the Department of Neurobiology at UMass Chan Medical School. If you're excited by questions about how nervous systems generate complex behaviors and adapt them to changes in the internal and external environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Our research uses Caenorhabditis elegans to address two complementary questions. First, we investigate how neuromodulators and co-transmitters generate behavioral states and control transitions between them. Second, we examine how the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites influence neural function, physiology, and behavior.

These projects explore the mechanisms by which internal state, environmental conditions, and microbial signals are integrated by the nervous system. We combine genetics, molecular biology, quantitative behavioral analysis, neural imaging, optogenetics, bacterial genetics, and metabolomics.

The successful candidate will have considerable freedom to develop an independent research direction within either of these areas or at their intersection. Our lab is a collaborative and intellectually engaging place to work, where curiosity, creativity, and experimental rigor are all valued — and where you'll have colleagues invested in your growth as a scientist. You'll also be part of a, interactive research community in the Department of Neurobiology at UMass Chan, with access to advanced imaging, genomic, metabolomic, and computational resources.

Qualifications

We're looking for someone with:

• A Ph.D. in neurobiology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, metabolism, bioinformatics, or a related field
• Previous peer-reviewed publications
• Strong experimental, analytical, and scientific-writing skills
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• An interest in neuromodulation, behavior, or microbiome-host communication

*** Previous experience with C. elegans is helpful but not required.

Applicants with backgrounds in neuroscience, microbiology, microbial genetics, imaging, metabolomics, or quantitative biology are encouraged to apply.

Postdoctoral fellows will be actively involved in manuscript and grant writing. Training and mentorship in grant writing will be provided, and fellows will be encouraged to develop and submit their own fellowship and research proposals.