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Department

Job Description Summary

The Postdoctoral Research Associate collaborates on and lead high-impact research projects at the intersection of metabolic disease, novel food systems, genome regulation, and biomarker discovery in nutrition-sensitive chronic diseases. Responsibilities include the design and execution of animal feeding studies utilizing polyphenol-enriched plant systems, as well as the biochemical, molecular, and phytochemical analysis of serum samples collected from animals fed polyphenol-rich diets.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate develops and implements projects leveraging multi-omics and proteomics approaches to investigate the effects of diet, obesity, nutrition, and lifestyle interventions on the development and progression of chronic metabolic diseases across the life course. The position also involves building collaborative research initiatives with USDA-ARS scientists and members of the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture.

Essential Duties/Tasks

Research:

Under general supervision, is responsible for conducting research into their field of expertise.

• In consultation with the PI, designs and executes experiments.
• Performs lab-based analysis of new and existing clinical samples, advanced statistical analysis of research experiments and results.

Utilizes knowledge and skills granted to them by their education and expertise to complete research projects in their field of expertise.

Assists with the preparation and cleaning of worksite.

Analyzes research data and summarizes results.

• Develops novel hypothesis, experimental approaches & data analysis methods.
• Leads the writing and communication of research-based peer-reviewed publications.

Writes and may contribute to research papers, articles, and publications.

• Follows appropriate laboratory safety procedures for handling, disposing of and keeping inventory of hazardous chemicals.

Mentoring:

May assist, mentor, and/or supervise student researchers and/or graduate students who are working on research related to the project.

Presentations:

Prepares presentation materials on research topic that may be presented to small and/or large groups.

Actively participates in the preparation of required technical progress reports to research sponsors.

Other Duties:

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

• PhD degree in any of the following: preclinical mouse models, physiology, biochemistry or epidemiology.

Required Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Presentation and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Desire and ability to work collaboratively and help maintain a supportive environment for all team members.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Ability to multi-task and establish effective working relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity in working with pre-clinical model and samples from mouse subjects.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to lift or move light, moderate, and heavy objects.
• Ability to exert light force.
• Maintain a flexible work schedule to accommodate occasional work outside of normal office hours as needed.
• May travel as required.

Position Funding: This position is funded from a grant and/or contract funding which is renewed under the provisions of the grantor of the contract. This initial position is limited to 2 years upon hire date. Your position, therefore, is contingent upon continuation of funding of these grants and/or contracts and your satisfactory job performance.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.