Careers at UMass Amherst

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Description

A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Leyao Wang in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences and the Institute for Applied Life Sciences at UMass Amherst. The Wang lab studies the airway microbiota and lung diseases, such as asthma. This position will provide an excellent opportunity for the successful candidates to perform studies on human microbiome as well as molecular biological experiments to identify functional roles of the airway microbiota in disease pathogenesis. The postdoctoral fellow will use cell lines, organoid systems, and mouse models to pursue a career in the field of Microbiome, Microbiology, and Immunology in the lung. The postdoctoral fellow will assist with the conduct of all studies, analyze and present data, supervise student researchers and be active in presenting and publishing their work at conferences and in journals. The fellow will work with all members of the research team and participate in weekly lab meetings and other relevant meetings.

Examples of Duties

• Conduct molecular and cellular experiments in a wet laboratory.
• Perform microbiome sequencing data analysis.
• Coordinate studies with faculty and other co-investigators for cohort recruitment, IRB preparation and management, as well as other compliance related to project.
• Prepare abstracts, manuscripts, presentations, reports related to this project.
• Supervise the work of student researchers on this project.
• Meet regularly with the PI to evaluate progress on all aspects of the project.

Requirements

• PhD in Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology, or other relevant fields.
• Demonstrated productivity in publishing papers.
• Evidence of potential for fostering a diverse working environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on a research team.
• Skillsets in data analysis using R, Python or similar programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in both molecular biology research and sequencing data analysis.

Additional Information

• Typical Office/Lab Environment
• M-F 40 hours per week

Application Instructions

Along with the application, please submit a curriculum vitae, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until filled.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.