Location

SAINT LOUIS, MO 63110

Position Summary

The position requires creativity, independence and willingness to work on an “out of the box” project. Picobirnaviruses (PBV)s are small double-stranded RNA viruses first discovered in human stool specimens that have been largely ignored by the scientific community. PBVs are highly prevalent and abundant in human enteric viromes and have been associated with multiple human disease. While they have been assumed to infect human and other vertebrate hosts for over 30 years, we have generated significant evidence that PBVs actually are the 3rd known group of RNA bacteriophages rather than eukaryotic viruses (e.g., Krishnamurthy et al, Virology 2018; Gan and Wang, PNAS 2023).

Projects will focus on defining the interactions of PBVs with their bacterial hosts both in vitro and in vivo in gnotobiotic mouse models and defining their impact on the microbiome and human health. Applicants must be comfortable working with a wide range of experimental approaches: NGS, bioinformatics, biochemistry, genetic screens, virological and bacteriological methods.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/.

Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to):

 

• Assists with grant preparation and reporting.
• Prepares and submits papers on research.
• Assists in the design of research experiments.
• Evaluates research findings and assists in the reporting of the results.
• Conscientious discharge of their research responsibilities.
• Maintains conformity with ethical standards in research.
• Maintains compliance with good laboratory practice including the maintenance of adequate research records.
• Engages in open and timely discussion with their mentor regarding possession or distribution of material, reagents, or records belonging to their laboratory and any proposed disclosure of findings or techniques privately or in publications.
• Collegial conduct towards co-trainees, staff members and members of the research group.
• Adherence to all applicable University policies, procedures and regulations. All data, research records and materials and other intellectual property generated in University laboratories remain the property of the University.

Working Conditions:

 

This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Salary Range:

 

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

Applicant Special Instructions:

Interested applicants should submit the following documents to davewang@wustl.edu.