Berkeley Lab’s (LBNL ) Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology (EGSB ) Division has an opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join the team as part of the Phage Foundry team that aims to establish a high-throughput platform for rapid design and development of countermeasures to combat drug-resistant pathogens.

In this role, you will perform experimental preparations of bacterial pathogens and phage isolations. This includes carrying out phage host range assays, generating datasets for genotype-phenotype mappings, building barcoded TnSeq and Dub-seq libraries, phage engineering, studying phage-phage, phage-antibiotic, and phage-metal synergies/cross-resistance in bacterial pathogens, and implementing phage cocktail formulation designs. The project will allow you to work with other team members to study phage/antibiotic combinations in animal models or plant model systems. You will produce unified literature, datasets, and visual presentation of the datasets and will have the opportunity to work very closely with the computational analytics team. 

Additionally, you will work with the team to prepare manuscripts, review papers, conference presentations and help write annual reports. To meet these goals, you will collaborate closely with the others on the Phage Foundry experimental and computational teams. You will be expected to present their findings in conferences and peer-reviewed journals in addition to seeking out and acquiring extramural funding (including postdoctoral fellowships).

This position has an anticipated start date of October 1, 2023.

What You Will Do:

• Develop approaches for data-driven design of experiments that use high throughput screening and genomics to quantify host-phage interaction.  
• Develop novel approaches to elucidate discover mechanisms of host/phage interaction through use of bar-coded genetic libraries, phage engineering and laboratory evolution.  
• Work with Phage Foundry experimental and computational team members to design experiments such that the data developed can be used to predict phage modifications and phage cocktail compositions most likely to meet performance goals (suppression of growth and evolutionary escape) of target pathogen populations.
• Develop research programs that lead to continued funding. 
• Present research at international conferences and publish in highly visible, peer-reviewed journals.
• Provide guidance to a small group of technicians and undergraduates.
• Collaborate and develop strong working relations with relevant teams on experimental design, data analysis, and long-term project planning. 
• Ensure all data and models are FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) and well-documented. 
• Maintain a comprehensible and trackable laboratory/computational notebook so that the provenance of data and analysis can be proven and troubleshot. 
• Ensure accessibility of reports, protocols, presentations and manuscripts for the larger program. 

What is Required:

• A recent Ph.D. (within the last 1-3 years) in Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, Synthetic Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• Experience performing high-throughput experimental preparations of bacterial pathogens and phage isolations.
• Experience developing approaches for data-driven design of experiments that use high throughput screening and genomics to quantify host-phage interaction.
• Experience in working with multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens, infectious disease models, phage-phage and phage-antibiotic combination studies.
• Experience in carrying out phage engineering or phage-evolution experiments.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including experience organizing/presenting technical reports and demonstrated success in the publication of high-impact work in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including experience collaborating with a diverse interdisciplinary research team.

Notes:

• For first consideration, please apply with a curriculum vitae (CV) or resume by September 25 2023.
• This is a full time, exempt from overtime pay (monthly paid), 2 year (benefits eligible), Postdoctoral Fellow appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds, and ongoing operational needs. You must have less than 3 years of paid postdoctoral experience.
• The monthly salary range for this position is $5,374-$6,444 and is expected to start at $5,374 or above. Postdoctoral positions are paid on a step schedule per union contract and salaries are predetermined based on postdoctoral step rates. Each step represents one full year of completed post-Ph.D. postdoctoral and/or related research experience.
• This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• This position will be performed onsite at either the West Berkeley Biocenter (Potter St.) — Bldg. 977, 717 Potter St., Berkeley, CA 94710.

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Berkeley Lab (LBNL) addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 16 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

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