Postdoctoral Researcher

Susquehanna University; United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Susquehanna University's Charvet Lab seeks a motivated Postdoctoral Scientist for a two-year NSF-supported position. The successful candidate will join the P-MixSwitch project, a collaboration between Susquehanna University and the University of Arizona, investigating how mixoplankton switch between photosynthesis and phagotrophy.

The Postdoctoral Scientist will work with investigators and research personnel at both institutions in an interdisciplinary environment, conducting lab experiments,

Qualifications

• PhD required in a relevant field (e.g., biology, biotechnology).
• Experience in molecular biology and data analysis for omics studies.
• Strong written and oral communication; ability to mentor undergraduates.

Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory experiments and cellular assays.
• Perform RNA extraction, library preparation, sequencing data analysis.
• Collaborate with Susquehanna University and University of Arizona teams.
• Prepare manuscripts and present findings at conferences.

Skills

Molecular biology

Bioinformatics

Transcriptomics

Data analysis

Collaborative teamwork

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Tools

RNA-Seq

PCR

Python

R

Job description

The Charvet lab seeks a motivated Postdoctoral Scientist for a two-year position supported by a collaborative National Science Foundation grant. The successful candidate will join the P-MixSwitch project, a collaboration between Susquehanna University and the University of Arizona, investigating the physiological and genetic mechanisms that enable small marine mixoplankton to switch between photosynthetic and predatory lifestyles.

The Postdoctoral Scientist will work with investigators and research personnel at both institutions in an interdisciplinary research environment integrating microbial ecology, physiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. The position will involve laboratory experiments, molecular and transcriptomic analyses, bioinformatics, manuscript preparation, conference presentations, and the opportunity to mentor undergraduate researchers.

About the P-MixSwitch Project

Mixoplankton are ecologically important eukaryotic microorganisms that acquire energy and nutrients through both photosynthesis (phototrophy) and prey consumption (phagotrophy). This dual nutritional strategy allows mixoplankton to play a critical role in global carbon and nutrient cycling. However, the environmental and cellular factors that regulate transitions between phototrophic and phagotrophic modes remain poorly understood.

The P-MixSwitch project seeks to uncover the mechanisms underlying this metabolic flexibility by tracking carbon and phosphorus fluxes through nutrient uptake, photosynthetic carbon fixation, and phagotrophic ingestion of prey. Using physiological, molecular, and transcriptomic approaches, the project will characterize the cellular and subcellular changes associated with trophic switching in ecologically important prasinophyte mixoplankton. This work will advance understanding of the role of marine mixoplankton in carbon cycling within oligotrophic ocean ecosystems.

Research Environment

The Charvet Lab at Susquehanna University uses molecular biology and bioinformatics approaches to investigate genes and pathways involved in mixoplankton phagotrophy under varying environmental conditions. As part of the P-MixSwitch project, the Postdoctoral Scientist will participate in collaborative experimental work with the University of Arizona, followed by RNA extraction, transcriptome sequencing, and gene expression analyses of key prasinophyte strains.

This is a full-time, two-year postdoctoral appointment funded by the National Science Foundation, with an anticipated start date of January 2027. Applicants must submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references through the online application system.

Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2026.