The Dowd laboratory in the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at Washington State University (WSU) seeks a full-time postdoctoral research associate to begin work on or before January 1, 2025. The postdoc will participate in a set of National Science Foundation-funded studies designed to examine the effects of environmental stress on the physiological architecture of inter-individual variation within intertidal mussel beds. Core objectives include analyzing protein expression variation across a range of environmental conditions, linking variation in omics patterns to metrics of individuals’ whole-organism performance, and detailed analysis of the effects of thermal stress on biochemical functions that vary in expression across individuals. This project builds on more than a decade of foundational work from our lab. There may also be opportunities to develop related, independent research projects.
The position will be based at the WSU campus in Pullman, WA, USA. The postdoc will conduct some fieldwork to collect animals but will be expected to focus on extensive laboratory rearing studies followed by physiological/biochemical analyses, to co-supervise undergraduate students with the PI, to work collaboratively with one or more graduate students, and to contribute to shared laboratory duties. Expected work products will include analyses of existing and new datasets, manuscripts for publication in scientific journals, and presentations of results at professional conferences. There will be opportunities to interact with our collaborator Dr. Dietmar Kültz of UC Davis. Applicants should have a genuine interest in participating in a program that closely integrates research, teaching, and student mentoring.
More information about our group can be found at http://labs.wsu.edu/dowd/. SBS has a strong research presence in organismal biology, evolution, and ecology research (https://sbs.wsu.edu/). There are many opportunities for interaction and collaboration within SBS and in the WSU community more broadly. Pullman and nearby Moscow, ID, collectively offer the intellectual and cultural resources of two land-grant state universities. The two cities are served by a regional airport, and the surrounding areas offer access to a variety of outdoor activities year-round.
Required education/experience:
Ph.D. in Biology, Physiology, Biochemistry or other relevant field
Preferred experience:
Creative, collegial, strongly self-motivated candidates with experience in organismal physiology, physiological phenotyping, and/or proteomics data analyses as they relate to environmental stress will be given preference. Strong quantitative skills (e.g., analysis of multivariate data using software packages such as R or Matlab) are essential. Prior experience with constructing, programming, and/or maintaining environmental control systems (e.g., using Arduino or similar microcontrollers) or complex aquarium systems would also be valuable.
Compensation:
Competitive salary plus WSU benefits, including health, vision, dental, and retirement plan. The initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of renewal for additional years, pending satisfactory performance and continued availability of funding.
Informal candidate screening process:
Interested applicants should send the following via email as a SINGLE PDF document: 1) CV, 2) one-page cover letter including a brief statement of research interests/experiences and career goals as they relate to this position, 3) contact information for 3 references, and 4) 2 representative publications. Informal screening of potential applicants will begin immediately. A formal WSU application and background check will be required of the selected candidate.
Questions regarding this position can be directed to:
Wes Dowd, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences
Washington State University
P.O. Box 644236
Pullman, WA 99164-4236, USA
(office) 1-509-335-8122; email: wes.dowd@wsu.edu
