Postdoctoral Scientist - Marine Biomedical Discovery

Job description

Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) is an exciting independent research institute addressing critical challenges facing our oceans, human health, and the environment through innovative scientific research and education. GMGI is looking for a Postdoctoral Scientist to join our team studying the biology of exceptionally long-lived marine animals. Our goal is to translate evolutionary insights from these exceptional animals into interventions that promote human healthspan and combat age-related diseases, using zebrafish as a development platform. This position will mine the genomes of long- and short-lived fishes and clams to identify evolutionary mechanisms that set lifespan. These mechanisms will then be genetically modeled in zebrafish to extend healthy aging. The project will use extensive computational methods, modern genetic tools, and develop new assays to modulate and test the molecular mechanisms of aging. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, excellent communication skills and the ability to work with a multi-disciplinary team of collaborators. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a dynamic and motivated scientist to learn a powerful genetic model and advance aging research in an entrepreneurial and exciting work environment. Responsibilities: Lead research projects in comparative genomics of exceptionally short- and long-lived species. Generate comparative resources through sequencing, assembly, and annotation of diverse genomes using modern bioinformatic tools. Use existing phylogenetic analytical tools and develop novel ones when necessary to glean evolutionary insights into the regulation of lifespan from diverse ‘omics’ data. Curate diverse biological datasets to form the basis of meta-analyses to identify shared signals underlying the evolution of lifespan. Develop evolutionary signals underlying lifespan variation into genetic interventions to evaluate their effect on aging and healthspan in zebrafish. Develop and apply assays to measure and quantify biological aging in zebrafish, including methylation clocks, histology, and compound neuro-muscular functionality. Contribute the generation and maintenance of transgenic zebrafish lines, including microinjection, mutant screening, and genotyping. Analyze experimental data with high proficiency using appropriate bioinformatic and statistical approaches. Lead the publication of results in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present research findings at scientific conferences. Contribute to grant proposals, institutional fund-raising activities and community outreach activities. Mentor interns and research staff as needed. Qualifications: PhD in molecular/cell biology, bioinformatics, or a related field, with particular emphasis on phylogenetics. Experience with standard molecular biology techniques such as DNA/RNA isolation, PCR/qPCR, molecular cloning and CRISPR gene editing. Experience generating and analyzing ‘omics data with particular expertise in analyzing non-model species. Strong computational skills and experience with standard bioinformatic and statistic software packages. Proficient with the Linux environment and knowledge in command line interface, writing shell scripts, and applying scripts of commonly used languages for biological data analysis (i.e. Python, R) Strong publication record representing innovative, high-quality research. Experience working with aquatic models is desirable. Experience with methylation clocks is desirable. Excellent communication and teamwork skills. Demonstrated record of leadership, integrity and flexibility. Enthusiasm and commitment to GMGI’s mission for science and education. This position will report to the Research Scientist. It's our goal as an employer to provide an enriching and supportive environment for our employees. We are proud to offer a benefit package that includes: Health and Dental Insurance Medical and Dependent Flex Spending Accounts Long Term Disability Life Insurance Paid Time Off 403(b) Retirement Plan 12 Paid Holidays Applicants must be authorized to work in the US. About GMGI Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) was launched in 2013 in the belief that the ocean represents a new source of opportunity. As a not-for-profit whose ambitious mission is to “address critical challenges facing our oceans, human health and the environment through innovative scientific research and education” GMGI is demonstrating that there is vast potential in marine science discovery powered by genomics. GMGI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. In addition to researching diversity in our oceans, GMGI is committed to supporting diversity in our workforce and classrooms. We know that having varied backgrounds and experiences stimulates discussion and new ideas. We are committed to taking action on diversity, equity, and inclusion through providing substantial training opportunities to increase our self-awareness as an organization and building a team of staff and students from uniquely different backgrounds. Please visit our website for more information: