Job Description

Position overview Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar Salary range: Will commensurate with experience Percent time: 100% Anticipated start: Spring 2022 Position duration: Two years, with possibility of an extension depending on performance and availability of funding. Application Window
Open date: November 30th, 2021

Most recent review date: Monday, Jan 31, 2022 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Sunday, Jul 31, 2022 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description
The Department of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Hellman Lab, in the area of Thermodynamics of Living (Microbial) Systems, including the further development of MEMS "lab-on-a-chip" devices to quantify the thermodynamics of biological systems across a gradient of complexity. As part of this NSF funded project you will build on an existing platform using a silicon nitride membrane as a thermal isolation platform to enable thermodynamic nanocalorimtery measurements. This platform will be integrated with a microfuidics platform that will enable the growth of microbial systems over a given period of time. You will help develop an integrated microfluidic nanocalorimetry device that will serve as the primary experimental platform to quantify power, yield and entropy production in complex biological systems. The successful candidate will join a team of faculty, scientists, postdocs and students across 5 UC Berkeley Departments, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Los Rios Community College. This exciting multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, team is researching the thermodynamic basis of biochemistry, ecology and evolution using soil and human gut microbiomes as model systems. This work will occur in collaboration with experts in biophysics, microbiology, biochemistry and ecology to develop and quantitatively challenge thermodynamic theories of biological organization and performance. This is an excellent opportunity to be trained in a cross-disciplinary team science environment that values and strives for diversity.

The job responsibilities entail integrate membrane-based thermal isolation nanocalorimeter devices with simple microfluidic culture platforms, working with Hellman and Sohn Lab members who are experts in nanocalorimetry and microfluidics respectively, and will collaborate with other team members to integrate these into a more complex platform of interacting units. The Hellman Lab is one of the only labs in the world with the unique capability to perform heat capacity and thermodynamic measurements on such a scale and your work will be pushing the boundaries of thermodynamic analysis of living systems. You will work closely with biologists and biophysicists, as well as collaborating with modelers. You will also be responsible for drafting manuscripts, presenting findings at national/international meetings and participating in annual NSF meetings. Additionally, you will work with the students at Los Rios Community College through our outreach and fellowship programs to provide unique STEM learning opportunities and will creatively share science discoveries using a multi-media platform.

Lab : http://research.physics.berkeley.edu/hellman/
Qualifications Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent international degree or be in the process of obtaining a Ph.D. or equivalent international degree at the time of application.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
Candidates must have obtained their Ph.D. or equivalent international degree by the start date of the job. Candidates should have no more than three years of previous postdoctoral experience by start date in Spring 2022.
Preferred qualifications
Substantial knowledge of and experience in thermodynamic measurements of materials, either solid state or biological systems
Experience in electronics and computer-controlled data acquisition and analysis
Experience with precision analog and digital electronics, and in computer-controlled data acquisition and analysis, such as by LabView.
Experience with vacuum systems, thin film fabrication, and lithographic processing of Silicon and other materials
Some background or course work in biophysics, physical chemistry/biochemistry or related biological fields would be an advantage.
Innovative and self-motivated with a collaborative mindset
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work within an integrated team environment.
Application Requirements Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Statement of Research

Publications
Reference requirements
2-3 required (contact information only) Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF03277
Help contact: cwelden@berkeley.edu
Campus Information
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values at UC Berkeley. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and academic and non-academic staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates for our academic positions will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality ( http://apo.berkeley.edu/ucb-confidentiality-policy ) prior to submitting their letter.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to Appendix F, Section II.C. of the policy for the deadlines applicable to new University of California employees. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

Positions that are represented by a collective bargaining unit or agent have particular contracts. For more information, please refer to the relevant contract: Lecturer contract , Postdoctoral contract , Research Series contract , and Librarian contract . Questions about represented positions can be directed to the hiring unit.
Job location Berkeley, CA

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