Postdoctoral Fellow - Coral Epigenetics

The Marcelino lab at Northwestern University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to join a Coral Epigenetics project with the goal of increasing coral adaptive potential to climate change. We are investigating the acclimatization potential in corals to uncover insights into their regulatory mechanisms that may allow for transcriptional reprogramming and increased survival to bleaching episodes. As members of the Center for Physical Genomics and Engineering at Northwestern, we work in collaboration with Center researchers who have developed a novel analysis platform to understand transcriptional reprogramming in mammalian cells, using novel nano-sensing optical microscopy technologies to determine chromatin structure, transcriptomic analysis and chromatin sequencing to relate regulatory mechanisms with gene expression, and multi-scale modeling to leverage chromatin imaging, transcriptomic data and chromatin data to predict transcriptional and phenotypic plasticity. We also work closely with the Shedd Aquarium to establish large mesocosmos coral heat stress experiments and understand phenotypic plasticity to heat stress in collaboration with research scientists at the Shedd.

We are seeking a highly motivated, enthusiastic, creative candidate able to work both independently and as part of a research team. The successful candidate should have experience with whole genome or transcriptome sequence data, be proficient in molecular biology techniques such as RNA extraction and sequencing, qPCR and other PCR methods, have knowledge and hands-on experience in corals and some knowledge of experimental manipulation of corals and their algal symbionts, with strong writing, critical thinking and troubleshooting skills. The successful candidate is expected to prepare original manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals, participate in writing research grant proposals, training new students, and overseeing projects. This role will also work on exposing corals to heat stress in collaboration with the Shedd Aquarium, and will perform RNA-sequencing, chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq and ChIP-seq) and chromatin imaging (electron microscopy and optical microscopy) analysis and, in collaboration with Center researchers, integrate molecular and physical aspects of gene transcription regulation and phenotypic plasticity (e.g., coral survival to heat stress) through modeling.

Qualifications: Applicants for this position must have a PhD and strong practical experience with molecular biology techniques and some computational genomics experience. Successful candidates should have several of the following skills:

Qualified candidates should send a CV, cover letter and contact information for references to Prof. Luisa A. Marcelino at: l-marcelino@northwestern.edu