A postdoctoral fellow position is available in Maria Diuk-Wasser’s EcoEpidemiology lab at the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B), Columbia University. The applicant will join a collaborative project with Yi-Pin Lin and Laura Kramer (Wadsworth Center, NY State Dept of Health), Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis (SUNY Downstate Medical Center) and Ben Adams (University of Bath) to study strain dynamics and host specialization in Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease bacterium, recently funded by the NSF Div. of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS).
This project offers a unique opportunity to integrate long-term field data collection, lab transmission experiments, molecular evolutionary epidemiology, and mathematical modeling to examine the processes driving B. burgdorferi diversity and host specialization. Candidates should have a doctoral (or equivalent) degree in ecology, epidemiology, microbiology or related fields. Background in molecular biology methods is required, in addition to skills in one or more of the following areas: population or community ecology, population genetics or dynamic modeling of microbes, vectors, or vertebrate reservoir hosts. Highly desirable skills: knowledge of high-throughput sequencing methodology and relevant bioinformatics; field and laboratory animal handling experience. The successful candidate must be capable of working independently in an interdisciplinary environment and have strong quantitative and writing skills evidenced by scholarly publications. In addition to the formal collaborations, opportunities exist for collaboration with the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia Earth Institute, the American Museum of Natural History, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and EcoHealth Alliance. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Columbia University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. Application deadline: December 1, 2018. The position will remain open until filled. Expected start date: May-June 2019. Salary is commensurate with experience. Applications should include a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names of three referees in a single PDF file to be sent to [email protected].
