I have an open postdoc position in my group to study impact of physical, primarily mechanical, factors in the growth and robustness of bacterial biofilms. I have NIH and NSF funding to support such a position for up to three years, beginning as soon as possible. I am looking for candidates with a background in soft-matter physics, chemical engineering, materials science, or similar. Prior biological work, in particular with bacteria, is desirable but not strictly required. Good written and oral communication skills and a strong track record of teamwork are essential – any type of multidisciplinary teamwork will be regarded very favorably. A history of successful mentoring of younger students (undergraduate and/or graduate) will also be regarded very favorably.
Biofilms strongly impact medicine, industry, and built infrastructure. The harms caused by biofilms are widely thought to be linked to the physical properties of biofilms, but very few specifics are known. Therefore, biophysical studies of biofilms are a growth area, and this postdoc position has good potential to produce high-impact publications and to serve as a stepping-stone to a successful academic or industrial career. Previous postdocs and PhD students in my group have gone on to both academic and industry positions. A list of publications from my group is available here: http://chaos.utexas.edu/people/faculty/vernita-gordon/gordon-publications.
I am affiliated with both the Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, in the Department of Physics, and the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology at UT Austin. As a result, my lab is a dynamic, multidisciplinary research environment. Opportunities for collaboration and initiative abound. Austin is a thriving, rapidly-growing city with vibrant arts scenes and opportunities for outdoor recreation.
If you would like to be considered for this postdoc, please send me your CV and a brief statement of what attracts you to this position. Please arrange to have at least three letters of reference sent to me. My email address is gordon@chaos.utexas.edu. If you would like to discuss this position before applying in full, please feel free to email me as well.