• Post-Doc Research Associate

    University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC)


    Vacancy ID: PDS004508

    Position Summary/Description:

    The Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is recruiting an exceptional candidate for a postdoctoral research fellowship in environmental sciences and engineering. The fellow will join an exciting group of interdisciplinary researchers working on water, sanitation, and global environmental health. The fellow’s primary role will be to support the urban sanitation project that focuses on understanding pathogen hazards associated with sanitation infrastructure and practices.

    Roles & Responsibilities Include:

    Working with PI (Dr. Musa Manga), the postdoc will lead the development of sampling and analysis plans for the measurement of enteric pathogens in environmental media; organize and oversee fieldwork activities involving collection of environmental and faecal sludge samples, on-site in Lusaka, Zambia and Kampala, Uganda; liaise with project partners and the community; develop and optimize microbiology and molecular methods for the detection, quantification, and characterization of pathogens and/or microbial in collected samples; perform DNA / RNA extraction, PCR , sequencing, and other molecular techniques for pathogen and/or microbial identification and analysis; technical modelling and analysis of pathogen and field data, and integrate findings into broader research objectives; provide mentorship and training of graduate and undergraduate research assistants; and maintain active communication with project stakeholders; and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to interpret results, contribute to publications, and present findings at scientific meetings and stakeholder meetings.

     

    The successful candidate will be expected to lead peer-reviewed publications (at least Two publications as first author and One publication as contributing author) and contribute to grant proposals.

    Education and Experience:

    Preferred qualifications, competencies and experience include:

    Sampling; PCR , culture, and sequencing-based analysis of environmental samples; data analysis; modelling; community-based work; and academic writing.

     

    The successful candidate will have excellent oral and written communication skills and a record of publishing in leading peer-reviewed journals. Strong proficiency in microbiology laboratory techniques and outstanding communication skills are essential for this position.