Post-Doctoral Associate, JIFSAN/Microbiome Center

UM01 University of Maryland College Park (UMCP); Riverdale Park (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Maryland College Park invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in food safety microbiology and microbial genomics. The role targets a recent PhD holder skilled in computational and experimental biology, with opportunities to publish and collaborate across interdisciplinary teams.

The position involves designing projects, applying AI-driven data analysis, and contributing to methodological advances in microbial genomics within the JIFSAN and related centers.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of computational biology, 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.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• 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%).

Skills

Independent work

Critical thinking

Strong communication

Teamwork

Education

PhD in Microbiology / Molecular Biology / Bioinformatics / Computational Biology

Tools

Bowtie

MetaCarvel

metagenomeSeq

Job description

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, MetaCarvel, and metagenomeSeq, 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.

Responsibilities

• 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%).

Minimum Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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).

Physical Demands

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.

Licenses / Certifications

None required.

Application Materials

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

Salary

Regular Faculty: $65,000 – $75,000.

Benefits

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

EEO Statement

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.

Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice

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