Join University of North Carolina-Charlotte aquatic ecology • viruses • metagenomics: Postdoc + PhD opportunities in microbial ecology at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in a new center integrating environmental and computational biology. Interested in viruses, aquatic ecology, and metagenomics?
Ocean microbes, and in particular viruses, remain the most abundant yet understudied biological entities on our planet. What novel diversity and function is waiting to be discovered in the wild? How do environmental microbes impact biogeochemistry and carbon cycling? How do microbes make a living in extreme environments? How might novel virus-like entities shape ecology and evolution of life on earth?
As a part of a new lab funded on flexible startup, you have the freedom to shape your research questions and target environments – let’s brainstorm some ideas and make it happen, Charlotte is a minority-majority city that places 30th in US World & News’s “Best Cities to Live”. It is North Carolina’s largest city, with 2.4 million residents in the metro area, a blooming tech industry, medium cost-of-living, and access to both mountains and beaches.
Guaranteed funding for PhD (5 years) + postdoc (2 years). Access to brand-new lab + office spaces + sequencing (both Illumina + Nanopore) + computational resources. Postdoc: flexible start date in ’23. PhD apps for Fall ’23 due Jan ’23.
Lab members will have access to state-of-the art wet lab, and computing, and sequencing resources, including both short and long-read sequencing (Illumina NextSeq and Nanopore GridION). As a part of a new lab funded on flexible startup, you have the freedom to shape your research questions and target environments – let’s brainstorm some ideas and make it happen!
All lab members enjoy dedicated and new lab and office spaces in the Bioinformatics building, as part of a $10.5-million funded new center integrating environmental and computational biology.
Postdoc
One funded position is currently open for application. Funding is guaranteed starting at $60,000/year (plus benefits + health) for at least two years. Flexible start date in 2023. To apply, please email elaine.luo@uncc.edu with your CV and a <500 word description on your future research interests, motivation for pursuing this direction/career goals, past research experience.
PhD
The lab is pleased to offer funded positions starting at $29,600/year for students (plus tuition + health). Funding is guaranteed for five years. Prospective students may choose to enter either the Bioinformatics or Biology PhD programs. Applications for Fall 2023 are respectively due January 1st and 15th. Prior to submitting an application, please email elaine.luo@uncc.edu with your CV and a <500 word description on your future research interests, motivation for pursuing this direction/career goals, past research experience.
Charlotte is a minority-majority city that places 30th in US World & News’s “Best Cities to Live”. It is North Carolina’s largest city, with 2.4 million residents in the metro area, a blooming tech industry, medium cost-of-living, and access to both mountains and beaches.
The Microbial Ecology lab is committed to working towards a vision of academia that represents all it is meant to serve. Having experience as a first-generation student, the PI is dedicated to meeting the needs of lab members from marginalized communities by providing financial support and tailored mentorship in navigating academic spaces. Applicants from historically underrepresented and/or underprivileged communities are particularly encouraged to apply.