Job Description

The Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Brown University seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the laboratory of Dr. Peter Belenky. The Belenky lab studies how antibiotics interact with microbial communities and how bacterial metabolism influences antibiotic susceptibility. A central focus of the position is understanding how the environment in which microbes encounter antibiotics shapes antimicrobial action. This includes the effects of nutrients, neighboring microbes, and other features of the local environment on bacterial survival and community responses to treatment.

Our research combines in vitro studies of individual microbes, ex vivo experiments with complex communities, mouse models, and human samples. We study the gut microbiome as well as environmental microbial communities. The postdoctoral associate will investigate how these different environments influence antibiotic activity and alter microbiome structure and function, with opportunities to develop an original project within the lab’s broader research program.

Qualifications

• Must have completed all requirements for a doctoral degree Ph.D.
• Research experience in experimental microbiology, computational microbiology, or a related field.
• Background or interest in microbial communities, bacterial metabolism, antibiotic susceptibility, or antimicrobial activity.
• Ability to investigate how environmental factors, including nutrients and neighboring microbes, influence bacterial survival and antibiotic effectiveness.
• Interest in studying microbiome structure and function, including the gut microbiome and environmental microbial communities.
• Ability to contribute to research involving in vitro experiments, ex vivo community studies, mouse models, and/or human samples.
• Ability to develop and pursue an original research project aligned with the laboratory’s research program.
• Strong scientific communication skills, demonstrated through a statement of research interests and representative publications.
• Commitment to contributing to the research and/or teaching missions of a diverse and inclusive university community.
• Must provide a CV, statement of research interests, up to three representative publications, and contact information for three references.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit a CV, a statement of research interests, up to three representative publications, and the names of three references.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, in the administration of its policies, programs, and activities. The University recognizes and rewards individuals on the basis of qualifications and performance. The University maintains certain affirmative action programs in compliance with applicable law.