The mission of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (HNRCA) is to promote healthy aging through nutrition science to empower people seeking to enjoy long, active, and independent lives. HNRCA investigators conduct the world's most advanced studies on nutrition and aging. The research focuses on determining the nutrient and physical activity requirements necessary to promote well-being for older adults. HNRCA scientists examine how nutrition and physical activity play a major role in the prevention of the major chronic degenerative conditions and diseases associated with aging.

This position is grant funded and is not eligible for severance pay. 

The HNRCA invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellow position within the Precision Nutrition and Healthy Aging group, under the mentorship of Dr. Bruce Kristal. This role focuses on two interconnected projects that broadly address precision nutrition and health optimization in broad, aging populations. Current projects include:

• Population-Science Focused Project: Conducting data analyses and drafting manuscripts linking plasma lipids with demographic, physiological, and disease-related characteristics in a broad, older cohort, with a primary focus on a case-control study of future risk for type II diabetes.
  
  
• Integrative Project: Working with outside collaborators, the post-doc will integrate information obtained from mechanistically-focused experiments into the above diabetes datasets. This work will involve biomarker development, validation, and utilization.

These projects pose complex and impactful challenges, and as they evolve, this position may offer multiple paths and opportunities for growth and long-term career advancement.

Responsibilities:

• Analyze data and draft manuscripts related to lipidomics and population-level studies of human health.
• Lead projects that result in first-author publications; contribute to collaborative studies.
• Work closely with interdisciplinary collaborators from areas such as informatics, epidemiology, and nutrition.
• Participate actively in group meetings and collaborate on larger, multidisciplinary projects.
• Assist with grant writing and progress reporting for research funding

Basic Requirements: 

• A doctoral degree in a field relevant to the position, such as population biology/epidemiology, nutrition, lipid metabolism, bioinformatics, biochemistry, physiology, or a related discipline.

• Technical Proficiency: A solid foundation in quantitative data analysis and proficiency in one or more relevant fields, such as informatics, metabolomics, lipidomics, nutrition, epidemiology, or population studies. Experience in broad populations is particularly valued.
• Problem-Solving Orientation: Enthusiasm for tackling complex research questions and developing novel methods and workflows as needed.
• Independent and Collaborative Research Skills: Ability to conduct self-directed research as well as work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams. Candidates should be able to identify when to seek expertise from other disciplines and collaborate effectively to resolve challenges.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with the capacity to produce multiple first-author papers per year. The successful candidate should be comfortable and adept at clear and efficient scientific writing.
• Attention to Detail: High standards of thoroughness in record-keeping and completing work tasks

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams

Working Conditions: 

• Must be able to multi-task in a fast-moving environment, while working calmly and thoughtfully towards solutions.
• May work with and be exposed to hazardous chemicals and materials

About Tufts University

This is Tufts. Tufts is a student-centered research university with a constellation of world-class schools encompassing undergraduate, graduate, professional, and lifelong learning programs. Across the university, students satisfy their intellectual curiosity, jump-start rewarding careers, and unlock bright, promising futures. Through rigorous academics, groundbreaking research, and a commitment to civic engagement and leadership, our community of students, faculty, and staff collaborate across four Massachusetts campuses to build a brighter world (Medford/Somerville, Grafton, Boston-Chinatown, and Boston-Fenway). Our employees light the way. Tufts develops innovative solutions for the most complex global challenges of our time through teaching, research, and an unparalleled investment in civic engagement. In administration and operations, in dining centers and in labs, every employee plays a role in our mission for a better, brighter world. At Tufts, the work you do matters. So do you. Enjoy flexible and remote opportunities, innovative benefits, and an inclusive, welcoming, collaborative culture that supports you. Develop your skills. Take classes. Advance your career. ...Do work that makes you proud in a community you love. All while taking great care of yourself and the people who matter most. We’re all in on creating an anti-racist culture of belonging. Across Tufts, we’ve deepened our commitment to making the university a truly inclusive place. Where every member of our community contributes and feels like they belong. Where diverse perspectives are seen as our strength, and great ideas are always heard. In offices, labs, classrooms, and beyond, we’re doing this work together, knowing it is the foundation of our mission to create a brighter world. An innovative university needs resourceful people who make things happen. Here, collaboration isn’t just a buzzword, colleagues actually care, and community means everything. Sound appealing? Come join us. Choose a campus and find the role that fits you. Tufts University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff and fostering their success when hired. Members of underrepresented groups are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. See the University’s Non-Discrimination statement and policy here https://oeo.tufts.edu/policies-procedures/non-discrimination/. If you are an applicant with a disability who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, please contact us by calling the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 617-627-3298 or at oeo@tufts.edu. Applicants can learn more about requesting reasonable accommodations at https://oeo.tufts.edu/

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