Postdoctoral Fellow--Karim Lab

University of Southern Mississippi, United States

Updated: 2 days ago
Location: Hattiesburg, MISSISSIPPI
Job Type: FullTime

Postdoctoral Fellow--Karim Lab

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Postdoctoral Fellow--Karim Lab.


Position Details
Location Hattiesburg

118 College Drive
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 39406-0001
United States
Division School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences
Position Type Staff
Employment Status Full Time
Grant Funded Yes
Posting Close Date Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.  Applicants should submit a cover letter detailing qualifications and relevant experience, a CV, and contact information for 3 professional references.  For inquiries about the position, please contact Dr. Shahid Karim at [email protected]. 
 
Job Summary 
A Postdoctoral Fellow position is available in the Laboratory of Dr. Shahid Karim in the School of BEES at the University of Southern Mississippi. The successful candidate will participate in USDA-funded projects studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the intricate interplay between the Varroa destructor immune responses to the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), explicitly focused on the role of mites in the establishment and persistence of viral infection in honey bees. Highly motivated, hard-working, and technically skilled applicants with relevant experience are welcome to apply.  This is a restricted position with no set end date, and continued employment depends on project need, funding availability, and performance.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities  

  • Work closely with PI and the research team to plan, design, and execute scientific research.
  • Perform experiments using appropriate molecular tools to study the Varroa-virus-bee interactions.
  • Maintain uninfected and DWV-infected Varroa and honey bees.
  • Maintain detailed laboratory notebook and data records.
  • Writing manuscripts, grants, and abstracts. Write and edit drafts of manuscripts for publication. Write/contribute data for extramural grant proposals. Write abstracts of research and present them at scientific conferences.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.


    • Minimum Qualifications  
    Ph.D. in Biology or closely related field or DVM/PhD. Experience in working with mites and honey bees. Strong background in entomology, computational biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology. Candidates are expected to be very motivated for career development, committed to driving federally funded high-impact and high-quality research, and committed to aggressively pursuing postdoctoral grants. Ability to work independently. Excellent written and communication skills. Must have demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in past experiences or a commitment to do so as a Postdoctoral fellow at USM.
    Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
     
    • Knowledge of Microsoft Office.
    • Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
    • Ability to process information logically.
    • Skill in managing one’s own time.

    Preferred Qualifications  
    Experience working with Amblyomma ticks and cultivating Rickettsia parkeri in tick cell culture. Gene knockdown in Varroa and scRNA seq analysis. Working knowledge of mite biology, transcriptomic analysis at single-cell resolution. Experience working with honey bees, and insect viruses.


    About The University of Southern Mississippi
    The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a comprehensive public research institution delivering transformative programs on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. Founded in 1910, USM is one of only 146 universities in the nation to earn the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education's "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity" designation, and its robust research enterprise includes experts in ocean science and engineering, polymer science and engineering, and large event venue safety and security, among others.  USM is also one of only 37 institutions in the nation accredited in theatre, art and design, dance and music. As an economic driver, USM generates an annual economic impact of more than $600 million across the state. USM welcomes a diverse student body of more than 14,000, representing 71 countries, all 50 states, and every county in Mississippi. USM students have collected four Truman Scholarships and 37 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, while also leading Mississippi with 27 Goldwater Scholarships, an honor that recognizes the next generation of great research scientists. Home to the Golden Eagles, USM competes in 17 Division I sports sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). For more information, visit www.usm.edu .

    As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer/Americans with Disabilities Act institution, The University of Southern Mississippi encourages minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities to apply.