Postdoctoral Position in Host-Microbe Interactions in Arctic Ground Squirrels
University of Alaska Anchorage
A postdoctoral fellow position is available in the Duddleston lab at
the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Department of Biological Sciences
(
https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/biological-sciences/)
to study host-gut microbe interactions in arctic ground squirrels. Arctic
ground squirrels are fascinating animals that hibernate for 7 to 9 months
each year without eating or drinking, and regulate their body temperature
to -2.9°C, the lowest body temperature of any mammal. Despite months of
disuse and fasting, arctic ground squirrels lose little lean mass during
hibernation. We seek a postdoctoral scientist to lead investigations
combining multi-omics, stable isotope tracer, and culturing approaches to
examine the potential contribution of the gut microbiota to lean-mass loss
resistance via the production and provision of essential amino acids. The
postdoc will join an active and vibrant lab studying host-associated
microbiotas that includes technicians, graduate and undergraduate
students, with the opportunity to engage in student mentorship.
Faculty in Biological Sciences at UAA are engaged in research from
Arctic ecology to molecular biology, and ecosystem science to One
Health, and work collaboratively with university and agency scientists
locally, regionally and globally. Our department has approximately
600 undergraduate majors and 30 MS students, and we are a campus-wide
leader in undergraduate research mentorship. The department and lab
is housed in the ConocoPhillips Integrated Sciences Building, which is
characterized by state of the art equipment and open interactions spaces
to facilitate community. The department hosts a weekly seminar series and
monthly bioinformatics working group. In addition to the UAA Postdoctoral
Association, faculty development opportunities (workshops, working groups,
etc) hosted by the UAA Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFÉ)
are open to postdocs
https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/institutional-effectiveness/departments/center-for-advancing-faculty-excellence)
UAA is the largest of three universities in the University of Alaska
system, serving nearly 14,000 students. UAA enrolls an increasingly
diverse student body including 9.7% identifying as Alaska Native or
AN-2 or more races, 8.2% Hispanic, 3.2% African American, 8.2% Asian,
5.9% non-Hispanic 2-or more races, and 1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific
Islander. Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, with an ethnically
diverse population of 290,000, offers a lively intellectual and
cultural life, including opera, symphony, theater, art events, and a
variety of restaurants. Set between snow-capped peaks of the Chugach
Mountains and the ocean waters of Cook Inlet, the city offers ready
access to state and national forests and parks, year-round outdoor
recreation, and unsurpassed natural beauty. The University of Alaska
is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational
institution. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the
basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex,
physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital
status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related
medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity,
political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally
protected status. The University's commitment to nondiscrimination,
including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees,
and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information,
applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA's statement
of nondiscrimination available
atwww.alaska.edu/nondiscriminationThis position is supported by an NIH-COBRE grant, and three years of
funding is provided. Review of applications will begin mid-December. The
ideal start-date is February/March, 2020; however, a later start will be
considered. Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV and names of 3
references to the UAA Biological Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow job pool at
https://careers.alaska.edu/en-us/job/512896/uaa-postdoctoral-fellow-for-biological-sciences.
For questions about the position or more information, contact Khrys
Duddleston at
knduddleston@alaska.edu.
