Postdoc in disease ecology (Texas, USA)

A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Gabriel Hamer in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University.  The successful candidate will expand an ongoing research program studying vector-borne disease ecology.  Projects will involve the establishment of high-throughput molecular diagnostics for mosquito-borne viruses and mosquito transmission experiments to understand the consequences of pathogen interactions.  In addition, the candidate will have the opportunity to study Chagas disease by utilizing next generation sequencing to improve the understanding of vector-host interactions and to study the genetic variation and eco-epidemiology of Typanosoma cruzi.

Candidates should have a PhD in ecology, epidemiology, entomology or related fields and strong skills in molecular biology and quantitative techniques.
Candidates should demonstrate a good track record of publications and have strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.  The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to proposal writing, preparing manuscripts, and mentoring undergraduate, public health, veterinary, and/or graduate students. Experience with next generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and phylogenetic analysis is beneficial.  The successful applicant must work independently and as an effective member of multidisciplinary collaborative teams.  The candidate will have the opportunity to integrate with Dr. Sarah Hamer’s research lab (http://vetmed.tamu.edu/faculty/hamer-lab), the TAMU Vector Biology Research Group (http://vectorbiology.tamu.edu/Home.html) and the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program (http://eeb.tamu.edu/).

Application review will begin on Aug. 24, 2015, and the position will remain open until filled.  The expected start date is flexible between October 2015 and January 2016. The position is available for two years with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and available funds.  Salary
is commensurate with experience. Initial application materials consist of a cover letter, CV, statement of research interests and career goals, and the names of three references.  Materials should be emailed as a single PDF to Gabe Hamer: ghamer@tamu.edu