Postdoctoral Fellow in Soil Microbiology

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: over 2 years ago

Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO

Deadline: 04 Oct 2021

Posting Details

Working Title	Postdoctoral Fellow in Soil Microbiology
Position Location	Fort Collins, CO
Research Professional Position	Yes
Posting Number	202101008AP
Position Type	Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title	Postdoctoral Fellows
Number of Vacancies	1
Work Hours/Week	40
Proposed Annual Salary Range	$50,000 - $60,000
Employee Benefits	Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date	10/01/2021
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on	10/04/2021
Description of Work Unit	The Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL) is a research and teaching unit at Colorado State University with a mission “to ensure the sustainability of the Earth’s ecosystems through the generation and application of new knowledge.” The department’s interdisciplinary, ecosystem research promotes collaborations among disciplines and across fields of expertise at CSU and throughout the world. As a soft-money research unit, this role is critical to ensure adequate funding to sustain its vital role in the research community both locally and across the globe.
Position Summary	The Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory seeks a postdoctoral researcher in the field of microbial metabolism to work as part of a larger team on several related projects intended to better understand carbohydrate anabolism and catabolism in soil organisms and the environment. This research theme, supported by grants from the USDA, the Keck Foundation, and the Grantham Foundation, engages several units across campus, including the NREL, the Ecosystem Science and Sustainability department, the Materials and Molecular Analysis Center (part of the CSU Analytical Resources Core), the department of Chemistry, the WM Keck Metabolism Collective and others. The primary goal of this position is to isolate and identify soil microorganisms capable of novel carbohydrate anabolism and catabolism and to understand how and why these microorganisms carry out these functions. To that end, the researcher will (1) use analytical platforms for understanding and characterizing the metabolic pathways by which rare carbohydrates are synthesized and consumed with the goal of (2) functionally characterizing these organisms, processes, enzymes, and genes. These positions are initially for one year with the potential for a one- to two-year extension based on performance.
Required Job Qualifications	• Candidates should have completed Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry, Microbial Ecology, Microbiology, Microbial Physiology, or other closely related field at time of application. • Mass spectrometry experience • Sound understanding of central carbon metabolism • Experience elucidating novel biosynthetic pathways • Demonstrated potential for independent research • Excellent work ethic, ability to work independently and in a team • Demonstrated ability to synthesize information and publish in peer-reviewed journals
Preferred Job Qualifications	• Experience with microbial physiology and microbial interactions with the environment • Experience with stable isotope-assisted metabolomics • Experience with proteomics • Advanced knowledge of carbohydrate transformations and transformation rates • Previous experience working with soil organic matter cycling and stabilization • Experience supervising students or other lab employees
Diversity Statement	Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Essential Duties

Job Duty Category	Research
Duty/Responsibility	Conduct soil and culture-based experiments to understand transformations of rare sugars. Characterize small molecules and protein products that are involved in rare sugar metabolism. Train and supervise activities of RAs and student hourlies.
Percentage Of Time	75

Job Duty Category	Project Management
Duty/Responsibility	Manage timelines of many experiments that are all dependent on each other by close interaction and communication with all project participants to ensure project success within the allocation time allotted
Percentage Of Time	10

Job Duty Category	Manuscript Writing
Duty/Responsibility	Write primary research manuscripts, potential review papers and white papers by synthesizing, analyzing and interpreting the results to effectively disseminate the results to the scientific community as well as the public. Work with team members to develop outlines and draft text for peer-review manuscripts. Submit manuscripts to peer review journals and address comments from reviewers.
Percentage Of Time	10

Job Duty Category	Grant Proposal Writing
Duty/Responsibility	Develop new ideas in collaboration with supervisor. Assist with the writing grant proposals to state, federal, industry and other granting institutions to acquire future funding for this position.
Percentage Of Time	5

Special Instructions to Applicants	Application materials consist of the following: CV Cover letter Three references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
Conditions of Employment	Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact	[email protected]
EEO Statement	Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services. The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] . The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] . The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] . Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement	Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.