Postdoctoral Research Associate – Microbial Ecology

About the role

The Soil Microbial Ecology Laboratory at Saint Louis University seeks a motivated postdoctoral researcher to lead cutting‑edge investigations of soil microbiomes using multi‑omics approaches. You will work closely with the research team to design experiments, collect field samples, and generate high‑impact scientific results.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct soil sampling in the field and design experiments to assess soil functions.
• Quantify microbial functional genes using qPCR.
• Develop and run AI‑driven bioinformatics pipelines for multi‑omics data (metagenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics).
• Measure soil properties such as pH, moisture, and inorganic nitrogen.
• Perform soil incubations and activity assays.
• Train undergraduate and graduate students in laboratory techniques.

Required profile

• PhD in microbial ecology, microbiology, bioinformatics, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated scientific productivity through peer‑reviewed publications.
• Ability to lead projects and work independently.

Required skills

• qPCR
• DNA/RNA extraction
• Soil incubation
• Multi‑omics analysis (metagenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics)
• Bioinformatics pipeline development
• AI‑driven data analysis

What we offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Health insurance benefits.
• One‑year fixed‑term appointment with possible extension.