Postdoctoral Scholar - Diploid & Triploid Pacific Oysters

Position Overview

School / Campus / College: College of the Environment

Organization: Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

Title: Postdoctoral Scholar - Diploid & Triploid Pacific Oysters

Position Details

Position Description

The College of the Environment fosters existing and new collaborations between outstanding faculty, staff and students who are engaged in the study of: the solar system and Earth’s dynamic land, water and atmosphere; the development and application of environmental engineering and technological advances; and the impact of policy and human actions on the environment, and the management of natural resources.

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS) is dedicated to sustaining healthy marine and freshwater environments. Our school comprises one of the largest and most diverse academic aquatic and fisheries sciences program in the United States. Our faculty conduct innovative research from the organism to the ecosystem scale, and are recognized leaders in aquatic biology, sustainable fisheries management, and aquatic resource conservation.

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences values the strengths and professional experience that students, faculty, and staff bring to our community. We are committed to providing excellent education to all of our students, regardless of their race, gender, class, nationality, physical ability, religion, age, or sexual orientation. We are proud of the different roles that our students, staff, and faculty play in the community of the School and in the College of the Environment. We recognize that science is richer and the SAFS community is more vibrant when a diverse group of people participate the SAFS community.

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences is looking for a Postdoctoral Scholar that will work on a project that seeks to utilize ‘omics technologies to uncover fundamental genomic and physiological differences between diploid and triploid Pacific oysters leading to low survival in subpar grow-out environments, and apply this information to screen genetic lines for resiliency to increase sustainable commercial aquaculture production. 

This is a collaborative project between researchers at the University of Washington and NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center. The postdoctoral scholar will be responsible for conducting controlled stress experiments and comparing physiological responses of triploid and diploid oysters to environmental stressors, specifically elevated temperature and hypoxia, which will be performed at NOAA NWFSC Kenneth K. Chew Center for Shellfish Research and Restoration located at the Manchester Research Station in Port Orchard, Washington. This is a 12- month initial appointment,  with the possibility of renewal.

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.

Responsibilities include the following:

•  Molecular analyses: Paper and electronic laboratory notebook generation and quality control; Lab equipment maintenance; lab buffer preparation; DNA, RNA, protein extraction, qualification and quantification, and sample library preparation for next generation sequencing or proteomics analysis
• Field work: travel as necessary for field experiments, sample collection, and physical measurements
• Wetlab: marine invertebrate culture; physiological assays; wetlab equipment maintenance; wetlab notebook generation and quality control
• Computational work: Open online lab notebooks; reproducible statistical analyses; coding in R and bash
• Presentation and Publication: written and oral summary of results; report and publication writing; outreach and education; website and online media contributions; presentations at scientific conferences.
• Communication: Meetings with PI and collaborators in personal or virtual, and timely (within ~48hr) response to emails and phone calls.
• Mentoring: Mentoring and training of technicians graduate, undergraduate, and high school students. Work collaboratively in a team setting and participate in group meetings.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

PhD or foreign equivalent in Biology, experience working with larval and juvenile bivalves, experience in bioinformatics and/or statistical analysis using R, Superior written and oral communication skills as evidenced by publications and conference oral presentations; ability to work in a multidisciplinary and collaborative setting

Desired Requirements:

Previous experience with functional genomics datasets (e.g. RNA-Seq) and/or previous experience with development and/or maintenance of experimental bivalve culture systems (tanks, plumbing) and larval and juvenile bivalve rearing.

Instructions

To apply please submit your application through Interfolio with the following:  (1) A letter of interest detailing your skills and experience. (2) A curriculum-vitae including publications. (3) Three letters of recommendation.

For questions about this position, including potential disability accommodations, please contact Katie Effert, at keffert@uw.edu or 206-685-6083.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed,
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information,
gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.