JOB POST: Bioinformatician in the Department of Microbiology at Ohio State

The Microbiology Department at The Ohio State University has the following position in which you may be interested.

Title: Research Associate 2-B/H
Department: Microbiology Admin
Posting Number: 378550

Performs analysis and interpretation of high throughput genomic data; develops experimental procedures and analyzes data; translates biological questions into computational goals using existing methods or developing new algorithms and tools when existing methods are inadequate; designs, develops, modifies, tests, evaluates and maintains customized scripting programs for analyzing, preparing, converting biological data (Illumina and other NGS platforms) for import and export; trains and assists research group members in UNIX/Linux methodologies; performs system administration work including interfacing with collocation facility; orders supplies; configures new computers; maintains quality assurance documentation.

If you are interested in this position, you can apply on our employment site at:www.jobsatosu.com

The good and bad of being a postdoc and student mentor at a research lab…

One of the best things, and one of the worst things, about mentoring and supervising students and postdocs at my institution is when they leave for their next position.  This last month has seen a remarkable confluence of the above.  Two postdocs (Tarah and Meg) have now moved on to fabulous new Assistant Professor positions; my graduate student (Migun) has graduated and moved on to a postdoc; and a visiting summer graduate student (Stacy) has returned to her studies and teaching.  And as if that wasn’t enough, Emily another grad student I co-advise, will finish in November!  This is particularly remarkable as I don’t have a huge group and have never had more than 5-6 students/postdocs in my lab at any given time!

As a mentor, I couldn’t be prouder!

I must be doing something right, or at least have done right initially in picking some smart scientists and dedicated individuals to work with over these last few years. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

As a Project Manager, PI and Mid-Career Scientist all I can say is yikes! 

All of the projects these folks have worked on have further studies to complete in the near term or are continuing for the long term. This will be a challenge for me as I try to keep making progress over the next few months.  I suspect that I may be having some more hands on time in the lab.  This is a very iffy proposition as I’m extremely rusty in my bench/laboratory skills.  How will I succeed in the lab, analyze data, write papers, conduct searches for replacement students/postdocs, manage projects and budgets, write grant proposals, serve on review panels, peer review and edit papers, serve on committees, etc., etc., and make any reasonable progress on any one of the above?

Check back with me after the new year… If I’m still sane/standing that is!

JOB POST – Two Tenure Track Positions in Wisconsin

1) The Department of Natural and Applied Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is seeking applicants for a tenure track faculty position in microbial ecology, beginning in August 2014. Successful applicants will contribute to teaching and research within the Environmental Science and Biology undergraduate programs, and the Graduate program in Environmental Science & Policy. UW-Green Bay has outstanding facilities, an innovative interdisciplinary focus, a significant history of research in the field of Environmental Science, and a commitment to building a sustainable future through quality education and community outreach.

We would be grateful if you could forward the attached position description to qualified candidates; the deadline to ensure consideration of applications is Monday 21 October.

If you have specific questions, contact Dr. Michael Draney (draneym@uwgb.edu), Chair of the Recruitment and Hiring Committee.

2) The Department of Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track faculty position in soil ecology at the assistant professor level. The position will focus on research and instruction in soil ecology including but not limited to linking below-ground processes to ecosystem functions; the dynamics of nutrient, energy, and mass fluxes in soils; the effects of global change on soil processes; and characterizing and evaluating soil biodiversity. The position carries a 75% research/25% teaching distribution effort.

Research responsibilities will include obtaining external funding to maintain a vigorous research program focused on soil ecology. The incumbent will train graduate students, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and is expected to become a leader in soil ecology nationally and internationally. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a world leader in ecology (ecology.wisc.edu) and genetics research, and collaboration with a talented and diverse group of faculty and staff across campus is expected and encouraged.

Teaching responsibilities include the ability to teach up to two courses per year serving both undergraduates and graduate students in the field of soil biology and ecology. Opportunities to provide instruction in team-taught courses related to soil ecology are available. The incumbent will also advise graduate students, provide undergraduates with hands-on research opportunities, give occasional guest lectures, and participate in graduate-level seminars. Innovative teaching approaches are encouraged.

Requirements include a PhD in Soil Science, Microbiology, or related discipline; a strong foundation and relevant research experience in the principles and concepts of soil ecology and microbiology; effective oral and written communications skills; experience in teaching in higher education; ability to work effectively across disciplines and with teams; and the ability to lead and motivate others.

Applicants should submit the following materials to Jennifer Etter Goh (jgoh@wisc.edu): (1) a single pdf containing a cover letter, statements of research and teaching interests, and curriculum vitae; (2) contact information (name, address, phone and e-mail address) of three references; and (3) copies of college transcripts. Please direct questions regarding the position to Professor Doug Soldat (djsoldat@wisc.edu). Applications received by November 22, 2013 will be assured full consideration. Review of applications will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. The University of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For further details visit soils.wisc.edu.

ORNL Internship Opportunities for Spring Term

Spring undergraduate applications available

Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Spring Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program,which encourages undergraduate students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers by providing research experiences at DOE laboratories. Spring internship dates are Jan. 6 through April 25. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1.