Post Doc Res Assoc-Dearing Lab

The postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Denise Dearing in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Utah. The research focuses on the evolution of the mammalian detoxification system and the mechanisms of adaptation to dietary toxins in herbivorous woodrats, including the role of the microbiome. Learn more about the lab’s research or contact Denise Dearing at denise.dearing@utah.edu.

The University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, offering easy access to world-class entertainment and recreation. Utah features five national parks, and the university is within a 40-minute drive of six major alpine skiing and snowboarding resorts, including 2002 and 2034 Olympic venues. Hiking and mountain biking trails begin on campus, and Salt Lake City is recognized as a top outdoor destination. The city also hosts numerous performing arts venues, such as the Utah Symphony & Opera and Broadway at the Eccles Theater, and serves as a major airline hub with non-stop flights across North America, Europe, and Asia.

About the School

The School of Biological Sciences is a diverse and vibrant community with research interests spanning environmental biology to biochemistry. The university has strong genetics, evolutionary biology, and microbiome research groups, fostering collaboration through cross-campus interest groups in evolutionary genomics and microbiome science.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on the evolution of mammalian detoxification systems and dietary toxin adaptation in herbivorous woodrats, including microbiome analysis.
• Work independently and collaboratively within a dynamic research environment.
• Engage in fieldwork involving wild rodents.
• Analyze next-generation sequencing data using bioinformatics tools.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in genetics, genomics, evolutionary biology, microbiology, or a closely related field.
• Track record of research productivity, demonstrated by first-author publications.
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills.
• Willingness to work with wild rodents and participate in fieldwork.
• Expertise in next-generation sequencing data and bioinformatics.

Qualifications

• Strong background in evolutionary genetics/genomics, including preparation of in-house DNA/RNA sequencing libraries, or microbiome science, including 16S rRNA metabarcoding, metagenomics, and microbial isolation and culture.
• Experience analyzing high-throughput sequencing data using R and Python.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range: $56,375 – $65,000.

Requisition Number: PRN45474B. Position is full-time and located on campus.