Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Greninger Lab
Position Overview
Organization: Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Title: Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Greninger Lab
Position Details
Position Description
The Greninger Lab at the University of Washington is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar driven by curiosity, eager to dive deep, think big, and learn fast - a scientist excited to grow in an environment that values curiosity, initiative, and intensity.
Our research spans virology, microbiology, genomics, and molecular biology. This role will have a primary focus on phage display serological profiling (PhIP-Seq) while also working on complementary projects in next-generation sequencing (NGS), molecular assays, and computational pipelines. The role combines wet-lab and dry-lab research on emergent viruses, leveraging molecular biology, biochemistry, virology, immunology, and informatics to tackle diverse challenges.
This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in cutting-edge science while developing skills that prepare you for success in academia, biotechnology, and the diagnostics/clinical research industries. You will learn from experts in virus discovery, microbial genomics, and translational diagnostics, while also building industry-relevant expertise in automation, robotics, and high-throughput biology.
The University of Washington, consistently ranked among the most innovative public universities and the nation’s top recipients of federal research funding, provides a vibrant environment for discovery and collaboration. Within UW, the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (DLMP) is a national leader in clinical laboratory services, research, and education, bringing together over 300 faculty and 1,400 staff across multiple clinical and research sites.
- 1.0 FTE
- The base salary range for this position will be $5,705 per month ($68,460 annually)
Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.
General Duties:
- Lead the development and application of phage display serological profiling (PhIP-Seq), from library preparation to data analysis.
- Build and optimize NGS pipelines for pathogen detection, genome recovery, and molecular profiling.
- Perform a range of molecular biology assays (RT-qPCR, ddPCR, sequencing, etc.) and troubleshoot as needed.
- Analyze and visualize data; report findings directly to the PI.
- Contribute to manuscripts (including first-author publications), grant applications, and presentations that share your work with the broader scientific community.
- Collaborate with the research team on new and ancillary projects to expand technical assay methodology and applications.
- Mentor junior scientists and students, fostering skill development and collaboration.
- Perform other duties as required to advance lab goals.
The ideal candidate will also meet the additional requirements:
- Demonstrated expertise in molecular biology techniques, including ddPCR, RT-qPCR, NGS library preparation, nucleic acid extraction and related assays.
- Mammalian cell culture experience.
- Strong coding skills in UNIX and Python. (R experience is welcome but secondary.)
- Previous experience in NGS data analysis and genomics pipelines.
- Prior first-author publications.
- Strong problem-solving skills and scientific communication.
- A deep interest in research and discovery. The drive to pursue it wholeheartedly.
Desired:
- Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
- Exposure to reverse genetics systems or viral culture.
- Advanced statistical/data analysis skills.
- Curiosity about virology (extensive prior knowledge not required; a strong desire to learn is essential).
Qualifications
Requirements:
PhD in virology, genomics, molecular biology, or related field.
Instructions
Applicants should send (via Interfolio) their CV, cover letter, and contact information for at least three references addressed to Alex Greninger, MD, PhD, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA - agrening@uw.edu
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all.
As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits
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Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.