Post Doc A postdoctoral position is available in the group of Dustin Brisson at the University of Pennsylvania, to study the ecology and evolution of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease.
The project aims to address the causes of variation in host and pathogen populations and their consequences to evolution and public health. We are addressing these issues by a combination of laboratory, field, and computational studies. This study will integrate across three scales of biological complexity molecular-level, organism-level, and population-level to identify the molecular and ecological mechanisms maintaining the polymorphism at a protein exposed on the bacterial surface and to determine the consequences of these mechanisms on the distribution and abundance of B. burgdorferi and on human Lyme disease risk. The position requires a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and inquiring individual with a background in evolutionary biology, ecology, statistics, or related fields. Molecular and field experience would be advantageous. Good quantitative skills are essential. The University of Pennsylvania has a strong group of evolutionary biologists and ecologists in the biology department that frequently interact with each other and with an accomplished group of microbiologists in the Medical and Veterinary schools. The position is available as early as Jan 2008; the starting date is flexible and I am willing to wait for an outstanding candidate. For informal inquiries and formal applications including curriculum vitae, list of publications, a one page statement of research interests and the names of three potential referees (all in a single file if applying by email), can be submitted to: Dustin Brisson Department of Biology University of Pennsylvania Leidy Laboratories, 326 433 South University Avenue Philadelphia PA 19104-6018 http://www.bio.upenn.edu/faculty/brisson/ http://brisson.bio.upenn.edu/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] V:(215) 746-1731
