Postdoctoral Scholar - Kapur Lab/Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences

About the role

The Kapur Laboratory works on bovine tuberculosis and related zoonotic diseases in low- and middle-income countries, developing and validating diagnostics, vaccines, and surveillance tools for national deployment. This Postdoctoral Scholar position is an initial appointment for one year, renewable based on performance and continued funding.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and analyze laboratory and field studies in mycobacteriology, immunology, or molecular epidemiology.
• Contribute to assay development and validation, and to bioinformatic or analytical pipelines as appropriate.
• Prepare manuscripts, present at scientific meetings, and contribute to grant proposals and funder reports.
• Engage directly with international partners, including travel to field sites in India and Ethiopia.
• Mentor junior trainees and contribute to consortium activities.

Qualifications

• Required: PhD in veterinary science, microbiology, immunology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, or a related field.
• Strong publication record relative to career stage.
• Proficiency in core laboratory or analytical methods for infectious disease research (immunoassays, molecular biology, sequencing, or bioinformatics).
• Excellent written and oral English; ability to work in multidisciplinary, multicultural teams.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Preferred

• Experience with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex or related pathogens.
• BSL-3 experience.
• Familiarity with veterinary diagnostic or vaccine regulatory frameworks (WOAH, USDA-APHIS, CDSCO, or equivalents).
• Field research experience in LMIC settings.
• Quantitative skills in epidemiology, modeling, or bioinformatics.

About the Laboratory

The Kapur Laboratory at Penn State works on the genomics, pathogenesis, diagnostics, and control of mycobacterial and other zoonotic diseases, with a long-standing focus on low- and middle-income country settings. The lab leads an international consortium with partners across India, Ethiopia, the UK, Canada, and the US, and its work has been published in leading journals.

How to Apply

Please submit a Cover letter and CV in a single PDF. Cover letter (maximum 2 pages) describing your research background and interest in the program. CV with full publication list. Names and contact information for three professional references.

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

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Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.