Postdoctoral Research Scholar - PMB

North Carolina State University; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement plan

Leave policy

LEAD courses

Attend sports events for free

Job summary

North Carolina State University is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Scholar to join the Lyu lab and lead cross-boundary microbiology research on multiple projects. The role involves integrating omics, genetics, and biochemistry to understand physiology-driven mechanisms, with funding from NIH, USDA, NC State, industry, and public-private partnerships.

The candidate will develop models to assess archaeal/bacterial physiology in health, agriculture, environment, or biotechnology, train students,

Qualifications

• PhD in a field related to microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, or molecular/cell biology.
• Strong written and oral communication demonstrated through publications.
• Ability to set clear scientific goals, propose and execute hypothesis-driven experiments, and achieve interpretable results.
• Strong motivation to lead publications, presentations, and grant proposals.
• Ability to train and supervise graduate and undergraduate students and visiting scholars.
• Strong skills in documenting research data following the FAIR principles.

Responsibilities

• Modernize classical microbiology approaches to discover and characterize physiology-related phenotypes.
• Integrate omics, genetic, and biochemical approaches to investigate physiology-determining mechanisms.
• Develop experimental models to evaluate archaeal and/or bacterial physiology in health, agriculture, environment, or biotechnology.
• Train and supervise graduate and undergraduate students, and visiting collaborators/scholars.

Skills

Strong written and oral communication

Leadership in publications/grants

FAIR data principles

Hypothesis-driven experimentation

Training and supervision of students

Education

PhD in microbiology/biochemistry/genetics/bioinformatics/molecular biology

Job description

Posting Details

Position Information

Posting Number: PG191748PD

Position Number: 00112241

Position Type: Post Doc

FLSA: Exempt

Departmental Information

Department ID: 110801 - Plant & Microbial Biology

Department: 110801 - Plant & Microbial Biology

Job City & State: Raleigh, NC

Position Overview

The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology supports teaching, research, and extension programs in fundamental plant biology and microbiology, including basic and applied research, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, and outreach to state and national clientele.

The Postdoctoral Research Scholar is invited to join the Lyu lab and lead cross-boundary microbiology research in one or more research projects depending on mutual interests. Research in the lab receives funding from the NIH , USDA , NC State, industry, and private-public partnership. Current microorganisms of interest include oxygen-sensitive archaea, such as methane producers (methanogens), and bacteria, including syntrophic hydrogen producers (syntrophs), hydrogen sulfide producers (sulfidogens), and fermenters.

Essential Job Duties

• Modernizing classical microbiology approaches to discover and characterize physiology-relevant phenotypes.
• Integrating omics, genetic, and biochemical approaches to investigate physiology-determining mechanisms.
• Developing experimental models to evaluate the impact of archaeal and/or bacterial physiology in health, agriculture, environment, or biotechnology.

Other Work/Responsibilities

• Train and supervise graduate and undergraduate students, and visiting collaborators/scholars.

Wolfpack Perks And Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement and Leave
• Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
• Enhance your career with LEAD courses
• Attend non-revenue generating sporting events for free.

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership , and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Requirements and Preferences

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday / 8am - 5pm

Department Required Skills

• PhD in a field related to microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, or molecular/cell biology.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, demonstrated through publications and presentations.
• Ability to set clear scientific and technical goals, propose and execute hypothesis-driven experiments, and achieve productive and interpretable results in a timely manner.
• Strong motivation to lead and contribute to publications, presentations, and grant proposals.
• Ability to train and supervise graduate and undergraduate students and visiting scholars.
• Strong skills in documenting research data and activities by following the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles.

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education

• Experience in one or more of the following: anaerobic microbiology (Hungate technique/anaerobic chamber); cell biology (microscopic techniques/flow cytometry); analytical chemistry (GC, GC-MS, LC-MS); genetic engineering (gene knockout/heterologous expression); and omics experiments and data analysis (shotgun metagenomics, transcriptomics, or metabolomics).
• Proficiency with ELNs (electronic lab notebooks) and data analysis platforms such as R, Python, JMP , etc.
• Ability to quickly acquire complementary skills through self-learning, supervised training, and/or collaboration.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a highly collaborative team

Required License Or Certification

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required?

No

Commercial Driver's License Required?

No

Recruitment

Recruitment Details

Anticipated Hiring Range: $60,000 – $66,000 (commensurate with experience)

Recruitment Dates

Job Open Date: 08/03/2026

Applicant Information

Quick Link: https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/233465

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail] .

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.