Career Center

45% Experimentation/Bioinformatics analysis
Will lead projects related to next generation sequencing of fungal pathogens. Will
execute computational genomics related to the identification of whole genome
sequence variants and transcriptional variation. Will collaborate with the current staff at
the super computing institute to transfer and collect data and execute bioinformatics
pipelines.

40% Drafting and writing scientific manuscripts
Will serve as primary author of manuscripts communicating experimental and
bioinformatics results

5% Training/supervision of graduate students, technicians, and undergraduates
Teach technical staff newly developed bioinformatics methodologies and supervise data
acquisition

5% Assist in planning and drafting extramural research proposals
Will work with direct supervisor to plan and draft portions of research grants relevant to
newly developed methodologies

5% Participation in seminars, journal clubs and symposia
Will present at least 1 formal seminar per year (locally or at relevant national meeting)
and regularly attend relevant local seminars and journal clubs.

Summary of the position:

The Selmecki research group studies genome plasticity and drug resistance in fungal
pathogens (Candida species). We use evolutionary approaches to understand the rate
and dynamics in which mutations arise in fungal populations, in the presence and
absence of antifungal drugs. We use comprehensive genomic techniques, including
Illumina and MinION whole genome sequencing, qPCR, ddPCR, and CRISPr-Cas9
engineering to identify novel mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance. Importantly, we
have identified genome rearrangements that cause drug resistance, including novel
chromosome structures and copy number variation.

Duties as Postdoctoral Associate will principally include the analysis of whole genome
sequencing (long read and short read) and whole transcriptome datasets, the design,
implementation, and interpretation of experiments aimed at investigating genome
plasticity in fungal pathogens.

The Postdoctoral Associate will be responsible for writing all manuscripts and
communicating experimental results. The Postdoctoral Associate will also assist in the
technical training and supervision of technicians, undergraduate, and graduate
students, and in planning/drafting relevant portions of extramural grants to continue
support of the project.

Required Qualifications:
- A Ph.D. in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Computational Biology, or
Bioinformatics with at least two peer-reviewed publications.

Preferred Qualifications:
- 3 to 4 years of experience with computational genomics
- experience in multiple coding languages (R, python, SQL, etc)
- ability to build, manipulate, and query large datasets
- proven record of project leadership and strong writing skills

About the Lab:

Understanding the dynamics of how growth-promoting mutations arise and accumulate in a population of cells is a fundamental problem underlying our understanding of drug resistance, tumorigenesis, and the treatment of cancer. We use experimental evolution, mathematical modeling, and comparative genomics to understand the impact of mutations on the adaptation of a cell and its surrounding population.

For more information, please visit: Research (selmeckilab.com)

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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