How to Apply

Applications are welcomed and encouraged from all qualified individuals regardless of background and identity. To apply, please complete the application on the U-M Careers site. 
Applications must include the following materials, submitted as a single file:

1. Cover letter describing your specific interest in the position, research accomplishments, and  qualifications related to the position 
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Contact information for three professional references
4. Representative publications, if available

Applications that do not contain items 1-3 listed above will not be reviewed. Incorporating these materials as a single PDF file is preferred, but additional files may be emailed to Greg Dick, [email protected].

Job Summary

A postdoctoral fellowship is available for a highly qualified individual to join the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR, https://ciglr.seas.umich.edu/). The successful candidate will work with our dynamic research team to develop tools for environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis of food web dynamics, invasive species, biodiversity, and/or toxic cyanobacteria in the Great Lakes. The successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Greg Dick, Dr. Casey Godwin (CIGLR), and collaborators from the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab and the United States Geological Survey.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on one or more of the following projects: use of metabarcoding (16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequencing) to evaluate food-web interactions and/or impacts of grazers on phytoplankton and bacterioplankton communities; development of high-throughput qPCR and metabarcoding assays to monitor invasive species and genes encoding cyanotoxins; application of metabarcoding and metagenomics to measure Great Lakes biodiversity at different functional and taxonomic levels.

Note: This position is a one-year term limited appointment with the possibility of renewal based on performance. 

What You'll Do

Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR), is part of the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. CIGLR is a collaboration between the University of Michigan and NOAA that brings together experts from academia and government research labs to address pressing problems facing the Great Lakes region. 

Mission Statement

The School for Environment and Sustainability (https://seas.umich.edu/) is a collaborative and interdisciplinary school. Our mission includes contributing to the protection of environmental resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. We accomplish this by generating and sharing knowledge, contributing to policy and engaging managers and stakeholders. The University of Michigan is a top-ranked public university with excellence in research and teaching.  Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, is a town known for arts, culture, parks and restaurants. 

SEAS is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable environment that respects diverse experiences, promotes generous listening and communications, and discourages and restoratively responds to acts of discrimination, harassment, or injustice. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is deeply rooted in our values for a sustainable and just society.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Responsibilities*

• Validate eDNA assays
• Perform bioinformatics analysis of metabarcoding data
• Conduct statistical analyses
• Contribute to project reports and manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, including as lead author
• Maintain a strong record of scholarly publication and present research results at scientific conferences and public meetings

Required Qualifications*

• A Ph.D. in limnology, microbiology, molecular ecology, biological oceanography, bioinformatics, or a related field. 
• Experience in bioinformatics and multivariate statistical methods for analyzing molecular data together with environmental data.  
• Demonstrated ability to lead development of manuscripts for refereed journal publication. 
• Experience in molecular biology, familiarity with high-throughput sequencing platforms, and experience analyzing metabarcoding data is preferred. 

Modes of Work

You will spend the majority of time at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Ann Arbor. Our team offers flexible work styles, such as flexible hours and/or flexible workplace (with approved agreements in place), however this position is not eligible for fully remote work.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

This position is open only to US Citizens or permanent residents due to federal security clearance required for access to NOAA GLERL facilities and resources. The candidate for this position will be required to pass a federal background check. 

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.