Job Board

Tenure-track Assistant Professor Position in Synthetic Biology

The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics (BMBB) and the BioTechnology Institute (BTI) in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota are inviting applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Synthetic Biology.

The ideal candidate will develop a strong research program that establishes a new research area with a synthetic biology emphasis that complements current faculty research in synthetic biology and biotechnology within the BMBB department and the BTI. We seek to hire a candidate whose research aligns especially with one or more of the following topic areas:

• Application of AI/machine learning to biological systems and genetic design, particularly in integrating ‘omics-level datasets and high-throughput experimental systems,
• Synthetic biology of microbial (especially of non-model organisms) and plant systems,
• Cell-free systems, including applications in human or animal therapeutics or biomanufacturing,
• Genetically programmable materials, with a focus on platform systems whose physicochemical properties can be modified using synthetic biology,
• Sustainable biomanufacturing using synthetic biology approaches.

The position provides opportunities for collaboration across multiple disciplines in the life, physical and engineering disciplines, and access to students in multiple graduate programs. BMBB and BTI are centered in the Twin-Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul that is a hub for biotech and biopharmaceutical companies and have close connections to industry. The U of M has been recognized for its excellence in technology commercialization and entrepreneurship of its faculty, and the successful candidate can become part of this ecosystem. The candidate will be hired into BMBB as their academic tenure home and into the BTI.

The BMBB department and BTI are committed to increasing the diversity and inclusiveness of our faculty and are welcoming applications from candidates that will contribute to these goals.
To learn more about this opportunity and how to apply, go to https://hr.umn.edu/Jobs/Find-Job and search for Job # 357330.

For additional information, contact the faculty search committee at: BTIsearch@umn.edu.

Research Team Leader, Production Host Engineering

VTT is one of the leading applied research organisations in Europe. Our cross-disciplinary community of over 2000 brilliant minds focuses on creating impact through science-based innovation.
We are now looking for a visionary Research Team Leader for our Production Host Engineering team.
As a Research Team Leader, you will have an essential role in building and driving forward an ambitious and visionary research agenda together with your team and aiming at impact together with our customers and partners.

The team, Production Host Engineering, works on bioengineering of microbes, especially fungi, to develop optimized cell factories for bioinspired production of sustainable materials and other products, such as biochemicals, food and pharma ingredients as well as new-to-the-nature compounds. The team makes use of our very well equipped biofoundry including e.g. high-throughput screening robots and bioreactors from automated AMBR250 to 1000 l.

We are part of the European IBISBA industrial biotechnology infrastructure network and members of the Global Biofoundries Alliance and Engineering Biology Research consortium. The team applies state-of-the-art synthetic biology tools and processes for the bio-foundry development. The team is part of Industrial Biotechnology and Food research area, which is working on topics of great importance to society, such as achieving a sustainable and resilient food system and reducing dependency on fossil resources and products.

Please, see additional information through https://ats.talentadore.com/apply/research-team-leader-production-host-engineering/DoBaAj

Deputy Division Director

The incumbent serves as the Deputy Division Director, Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences in the Directorate for Biological Sciences. The Division supports fundamental research and related activities designed to promote understanding of complex living systems at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels. The Division promotes quantitative, predictive, and theory-driven research and related activities designed to decipher the molecular underpinnings of complex living systems.

The Deputy Division Director participates with the Division Director in providing leadership and direction to the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences. They also assist the Division Director in carrying out Division-wide responsibilities such as strategic planning and management, human capital management including recruitment of staff, budget preparation for submission to congress, and overseeing the evaluation of proposals and recommendations for awards and declinations. The Deputy Division Director represents NSF to relevant external groups and fosters partnerships with other Divisions, Directorates, Federal agencies, scientific organizations, and the academic community.

The Deputy Division Director assumes the Division Director role in the absence of the Division Director.

Science Policy Postdocs

The Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) is seeking postdoctoral scholars interested in science policy. Postdocs will leverage their previous training to work with EBRC programs and to conduct an individual research project.

EBRC is a non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to bringing together an inclusive community committed to advancing engineering biology to address national and global needs. We showcase cutting-edge research in engineering biology, identify pressing challenges and opportunities in research and application, and articulate compelling research roadmaps and programs to address these challenges and opportunities.

Applications are being accepted for those with interest in engineering biology and related technical and policy influences and impacts, and those interested in any of our four focus areas: Technical Research Roadmapping, Security, Education & Workforce Development, and Policy & International Engagement. Applicants with particular knowledge, experience, and/or expertise in one of the five Application and Impact Sectors (i.e., Environment Biotechnology & Climate, Food & Agriculture, Energy, Health & Medicine, Industrial Biotechnology) and/or the four Technical Themes (i.e., Data Science, Engineering DNA, Host Engineering, Biomolecular Engineering) described in EBRC’s Engineering Biology: A Research Roadmap for the Next-Generation Bioeconomy (2019), are encouraged. Roughly 75% of the postdoc’s time will be dedicated to EBRC projects related to bioeconomy and/or in the focus areas (more detail below).

EBRC Focus Areas:

Technical Research Roadmapping: Working with EBRC’s Roadmapping Director, postdocs in this focus area will develop and curate technical content EBRC’s research roadmaps. A national-scale effort, postdocs will engage with the EBRC membership and other subject matter experts by facilitating interactions with the working group, executing workshops and working meetings, and performing independent literature research to ensure the best expertise is brought to bear in material development. Postdocs will gain experience in effective engagement and project management with the research community and focus on advancing research programs and opportunities across engineering biology.

Security & Engineering Biology: The postdoc will develop and deliver papers, briefings, and course materials on security and engineering biology. EBRC approaches this topic bidirectionally asking both how advances in engineering biology affect the security landscape and how changes in security policy can influence engineering biology research and development practices. The postdoc will engage with stakeholders ranging from undergraduates to senior government policy makers, so a strong ability to tailor communications to a specific audience is necessary for success. The postdoc will have the opportunity to interact with the national security and policy communities on issues relevant to engineering biology.

Education & Engagement: The postdoc will work closely with the Education working group and through independent research to understand and advance the engineering biology education landscape and workforce pipeline in the US, with a focus on increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and in coordination with the efforts of other organizations. Currently, EBRC is focused on developing projects, programs, and resources for students and educators to strengthen engineering biology curricula, interest, and engagement. The postdoc will also engage in a landscaping effort to understand the needs and challenges for the engineering biology workforce pipeline towards the potential development of a roadmap for engineering biology education and integration with the EBRC technical roadmaps for engineering biology.

Policy & International Engagement: The postdoc will work with the Policy & International Engagement working group on a wide range of topics not covered in the other three working groups. Efforts typically focus on US developments in the bioeconomy and how EBRC can effectively inform governmental decision making. This focus area is generally the focal point for preparing responses to formal RFIs. Internationally, EBRC is focused on understanding and engaging with the global bioeconomy, engineering biology strategies in different countries, and multinational governance like the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Postdocs will be an integral part of the EBRC Team and will have the opportunity to learn and make significant contributions during their appointment. In addition to the independent and focus area projects outlined above, postdocs will participate in EBRC core activities (annual meetings and retreats); contribute to EBRC cross-cutting efforts regarding bioeconomy advancement, responsible innovation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion; have opportunities for relevant training in science policy; and meet government officials and policymakers through EBRC events and, when possible, periodic trips to Washington, DC.

The EBRC Science Policy Postdoc is intended as a full time, one year appointment located in the San Francisco Bay Area. All EBRC postdocs will spend roughly 25% of their time working with Doug Friedman (EBRC President) on an agreed-upon individual science policy research project. Postdocs will develop their project based on a topic of interest and consistent with EBRC’s overall mission and strategic goals. Strong projects will leverage the postdoc’s technical background, their policy area of interest, and EBRC’s network and relationships in the engineering biology research community and throughout the US government.

Those interested are encouraged to send their CV and a Cover Letter as a single PDF to EBRC’s Executive Director India Hook-Barnard (ihb@ebrc.org) and copy postdoc@ebrc.org. In your cover letter, please indicate the focus area(s) of interest as well as initial ideas for your independent project.

Diversity statement: EBRC is interested in candidates who will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education and the engineering biology field through their work.

We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience, as well as a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k)-retirement plan with a 6% match, short- and long-term disability, basic and supplemental life insurance, PTO, and a generous holiday calendar.

EBRC is an equal opportunity employer to all and makes hiring and employment decisions without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Master student position in the field of immunology/ mRNA technology/ nanoparticles/ gene editing tools

The laboratory of Dr. Samira Kiani at the University of Pittsburgh has an immediate opening for an outstanding, highly motivated, and self-driven master student to join a collaborative research program on engineering immune tolerance by combining mRNA technologies, nanoparticles and epigenetic editing.
Kiani’s lab is interested in using the designer DNA binding proteins such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) and Zinc Finger proteins to develop novel editing tools to address safety of gene therapies and develop strategies to engineer immune response. This project aims to specifically engineer immune tolerance against any desired antigen. The ideal candidate has interest and background in either of these fields: immunology, in vivo mouse models, mRNA technology, nanoparticles or gene editing tools.
Minimum/Basic Qualifications: Bsc degree in a related field of study (genetics, immunology, biology, bioengineering, molecular biology, and/or cell biology). Technical experience at the bench including basic molecular biology, immunology, cell culture, western blot, RNA extraction and qRT-PCR.
Interested candidates should contact Dr. Samira Kiani (skiani@pitt.edu) with their CV, cover letter, and contact information of at least two referees included in the email.

Postdoc position on engineering immune tolerance by combining mRNA technologies, nanoparticles and epigenetic editing

The laboratory of Dr. Samira Kiani has at the University of Pittsburgh has an immediate opening for an outstanding, highly motivated, and self-driven postdoc candidate to join a collaborative research program on engineering immune tolerance by combining mRNA technologies, nanoparticles and epigenetic editing.
Kiani’s lab is interested in using the designer DNA binding proteins such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) and Zinc Finger proteins to develop novel editing tools to address safety of gene therapies and develop strategies to engineer immune response. This project aims to specifically engineer immune tolerance against any desired antigen. The ideal candidate has strong background either in immunology, in vivo mouse models, nanoparticles or gene editing tools.
Minimum/Basic Qualifications: MD or Ph.D. degree in a related field of study (genetics, immunology, biology, bioengineering, molecular biology, and/or cell biology). A good track record of publications is required.
Appointment: This position reports to Dr. Samira Kiani and is situated at the Pittsburgh Liver Research Center and the main campus of Pittsburgh University School of Medicine. It is a full-time, benefits-eligible, fiscal appointment with immediate start date. Initially intended to be for one year but there is the possibility of renewal, dependent on available funding, performance, and the needs of the University. The salary follows the NIH Pay line scales for postdocs. Applications will be reviewed weekly until the search is closed. A background check is required for employment. The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to excellence through diversity. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should contact Dr. Samira Kiani (skiani@pitt.edu) with their CV, cover letter, and contact information of at least two referees included in the email.

Postdoctoral designer of biological animal robots

We are seeking experienced and highly motivated postdoctoral researchers to take part in the exciting new BABot (Biological Animal roBot) project, funded by the European Innovation Council, beginning October 1st, 2023.

BABots are small animals whose nervous system is genetically reconfigured to produce novel behaviors. These creatures are intended to ultimately execute diverse tasks, such as protecting crops from pathogen invasion, clearing contaminants from soil or water, or entering the body to perform delicate clinical procedures. The BABot project will focus at this stage on the 1mm-long nematode worm, C. elegans as a pioneering BABot.

Our lab at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will be in charge of the design and construction of new genetic and neural circuits within the C. elegans nervous system, in order to produce artificially swarming worms that perform a sequence of coordinated tasks under a strict genetic biocontainment mechanism. This work will be performed in close collaboration with our BABot consortium partners, including experts in neurobiology, synthetic biology, collective behavior, robotics, and ethics, as well as a state-of-the-art agrotech company.

Candidates should demonstrate a strong background and track record in some or all of the following areas:
Synthetic biology
C. elegans molecular biology and/or genetics
Neurobiology

In certain cases, Ph.D. applicants may also be considered.

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