Job Posting Title:

Postdoctoral Fellow - Zamudio Lab

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Hiring Department:

Department of Integrative Biology

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Feb 01, 2025

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Jan 31, 2026

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Initial assignment is for one year from initial hire date, renewable for one additional one-year period. This position will include a full-time benefits package (https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits).

Security sensitive; criminal background check conducted on selected candidate. Hiring decision is contingent upon clearing background check requirement.

To apply, candidates must submit i) a letter of application, (ii) a full CV, iii) a brief statement of research interests, and (iv) contact information for three references. Review of applications will start February 1, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. Start date is March 2025, but negotiable. Inquiries about the position can be directed to Kelly Zamudio (kelly.zamudio@austin.utexas.edu).

The University of Texas, Austin has an active group in evolutionary genomics, herpetology, disease ecology and considerable genomic and bioinformatic resources. Austin is situated in the scenic Texas Hill Country. The cultural environment provided by the University and the City of Austin is exceptionally rich in art, music, and entertainment.

Purpose

An NSF-funded post-doctoral position is available in the lab of Kelly Zamudio in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. The work will examine immune mechanisms that potentially underlie susceptibility of frogs to the chytrid fungus Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). Specifically, the project entails characterizing T-cell receptors in experimental populations of bullfrogs under different growth conditions, to assess the plasticity of receptors and their downstream effect on host tolerance to the pathogen. Our lab has a long history of studies in this host-pathogen system, and we are looking for someone to extend these analyses to include experimental manipulation of hosts. The postdoctoral candidate will have the opportunity to interact closely with co-PIs at the University of Rochester (Jacques Robert), the University of Central Florida (Anna Savage), and Vanderbilt University (Ann Tate).

The postdoctoral candidate will be encouraged to carry out independent work. A wide variety of research is ongoing in the lab in addition to the current project. For a summary of our work, please see zamudiolab.org

Responsibilities

Establish/maintain operational protocols for experimental manipulation of host frogs, including husbandry, and maintenance of experimental treatments.  Manipulate early-life diet and environment in representative frog species to quantify the extent of developmental plasticity on T cell receptor diversity and infection outcomes.

Collect and sequence T-cell Receptor transcripts to analyze TCR diversity under different treatments and disease exposure scenarios. Experience withRNA and DNA extraction, library preps, and bioinformatic analyses. Manage data submission, retrieval, storage. Train and supervise undergraduate assistants tasked with animal husbandry and experiments, and molecular techniques.

Assist in data analysis for research publication and complete research publications

Help train and mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers in the lab.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. in biology, immunology, population genomics, or related field within 3 years prior to the effective employment date.

Experience in molecular methods for collection of genomic data, and strong bioinformatic skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with animals and in a genomics wet lab.

Demonstrated ability to carry out research, troubleshoot new protocols.

Demonstrated experience in molecular methods for collection of genomic data, and strong bioinformatic skills.

Good communication skills and willingness to work in collaborative teams.

Strong publication record and demonstrated ability to complete projects.

Salary Range

$65,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)

May work in all weather conditions

May work around chemical fumes

May work around standard office conditions

May work around biohazards

May work around chemicals

Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

Use of manual dexterity

Climbing of stairs

Climbing of ladders

Lifting and moving

Work Shift

Flexible: 40 hours/week is required, and most of this time should be during normal business hours (e.g., 9:00am-5:00pm), although it may change depending on projects being pursued.

Required Materials

Letter of interest

Curriculum Vitae, including publications

Brief statement of research interests

Contact information for three references

PhD Verification (copy of diploma or copy of official transcript in English with "degree awarded" information)

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Please make sure you meet all the required qualifications and you can perform all of the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.