Postdoc in Biophysics: Bacterial Division & Self-Organization

University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The Biophysics Group at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is seeking a postdoctoral researcher with a background in physics, engineering, chemistry, or a related quantitative field who is interested in self-organization phenomena in living systems.

The research will focus on the dynamic assembly and regulation of bacterial cell-division machinery, with emphasis on theory, computation, and machine-learning approaches in a collaborative environment with UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Physics, Biophysics, Computational Chemistry, Engineering, or a closely related field (degree must be conferred by the start date).
• Demonstrated research experience in theoretical/computational modeling of biological or soft-matter systems.
• Strong coding proficiency (e.g., Python, C++, or Fortran).
• Experience with molecular simulation packages (LAMMPS, GROMACS, or similar).
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply theoretical and computational models of bacterial cell division and self-organization.
• Independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and analyze large-scale computational simulations.
• Develop reproducible and well-documented simulation, analysis, and scientific-software workflows.
• Apply AI/ML methods where scientifically appropriate to model development, parameter inference, or simulation analysis.
• Mentor undergraduate researchers and contribute to the intellectual environment of the group.
• Prepare manuscripts and move projects toward timely peer-reviewed publication.

Skills

Python

C++

Molecular simulation

Fortran

Education

Ph.D. in Physics/Biophysics/Engineering

Tools

LAMMPS

GROMACS

Job description

The Biophysics Group at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is seeking a postdoctoral researcher with a background in physics, engineering, chemistry, or a related quantitative field who is interested in self-organization phenomena in living systems.

The research will focus on the dynamic assembly and regulation of bacterial cell-division machinery, with emphasis on theory, computation, and machine-learning approaches in a collaborative environment with UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.