Postdoctoral Research Associate - Investigating Mechanisms of Pathogen-surface Attachment

Requisition Id 12113 

Overview: 

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will focus on developing an understanding of how physical and chemical features of material interfaces influence surface recognition, attachment, and persistence of viruses, bacteria, and fungi.  You will characterize and quantify attachment and development of select agents on nanostructured and chemically modified surfaces and assess changes in morphology and physiology using optical microscopy, expression profiles, and molecular genetics.  This position resides in the Molecular and Cellular Imaging Group in the Biosciences Division, Biological and Environmental System Sciences Directorate (BESSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and is part of a broader interdisciplinary effort at the Laboratory.

In this role, you will work as part of an interdisciplinary team from ORNL and partner Universities on a project that is funded by the DOE Biopreparedness Research Virtual Environment (BRaVE) initiative . The overarching goal of the project is to establish an integrated workflow that spans clinical and scientific institutions to enable multimodal analysis and understanding of bio-material interactions.  As a team member, you will be responsible for sample growth, developing and utilizing methods for quantifying attachment dynamics, and characterizing physiological responses involved in surface recognition and attachment. 

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Conduct collaborative scientific research monitoring attachment dynamics of bacterial and fungal systems to surface arrays using optical microscopy and quantitative image analysis
• Perform experiments to investigate physiological and molecular responses of biosystems to different nanostructured or chemically modified surfaces
• Lead and contribute to the preparation of scientific manuscripts
• Present research findings at national and international scientific meetings
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or a related field completed within the last 5 years
• Demonstrated expertise working with bacterial or fungal systems

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in fabrication and/or characterization of nanostructured or chemically modified surfaces
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas is desirable: microbiology, optical imaging, image analysis. Priority will be given to candidates that have demonstrated the application of their experience and these techniques to the characterization of pathogen-surface attachment.
• Experience with optical microscopy and associated image analysis techniques
• Demonstrated experience working with biological systems in one or more of the following areas is desirable: bacterial physiology, fungal physiology, biofilm studies, or bioassay development.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory 
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs

Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to [email protected] with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
• View Profile
• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

Benefits at ORNL:  

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: [email protected] .

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email [email protected].

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.