Job Description
The Brotman Laboratory is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow in Epidemiology to join an NIH-funded study investigating the natural history of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), an emerging and highly drug-resistant reproductive tract pathogen. Although MG is increasingly recognized as a cause of serious gynecologic disease, key questions about its natural history, persistence, and clinical outcomes in women remain unanswered.
The fellow will leverage extensive omics data and specimens from the NIH Longitudinal Study of Vaginal Flora, a cohort of 3,620 women followed quarterly, with more than 13,000 archived cervicovaginal specimens and detailed longitudinal clinical data, including standardized symptom assessments and pelvic examinations.
The project will examine:
- How often asymptomatic, untreated MG progresses to cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and other clinical syndromes
- Whether MG is independently associated with these outcomes after accounting for co-infections
- How the vaginal microbiome and immune response influence progression to symptomatic disease versus spontaneous clearance
This position offers substantial opportunities to lead first-author publications, present research at national and international scientific conferences, contribute to grant development, and build an independent research program at the intersection of epidemiology, infectious diseases, microbiome science, and women's health.
Responsibilities
- Conduct epidemiologic and statistical analyses of longitudinal clinical and high-dimensional microbiome data
- Apply and develop methods for multi-omic data integration, including metagenomic and immune-profiling data
- Interpret findings within epidemiologic and biological frameworks
- Lead first-author manuscripts and co-author publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals
- Present research at national and international scientific meetings
- Collaborate closely with epidemiologists, statisticians, bioinformaticians, and laboratory scientists
- Contribute to study design, analytic plans, and grant development
Qualifications
- PhD, ScD, or equivalent doctoral degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, bioinformatics, microbiology, or a related field
- Strong quantitative and statistical skills, with proficiency in R or Python
- Experience analyzing longitudinal, infectious disease, clinical, or high-dimensional data
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications
- Strong scientific writing skills and the ability to translate complex analyses into clear scientific narratives
- Interest in microbiome science and women's health
- Experience with microbiome or multi-omic data analysis, causal inference methods, or infectious disease epidemiology is preferred but not required
Research and Training Environment
The fellow will join a collaborative, intellectually rigorous, and mission-driven research environment that brings together expertise in women’s health, epidemiology, biostatistics, genomics, bioinformatics, microbiology, and immunology. The position provides access to deeply characterized longitudinal cohorts, curated biospecimen repositories, and state-of-the-art genomic and computational infrastructure. Through mentorship, grant writing, and participation in future observational and interventional studies, the fellow will receive strong support in developing an independent research career.
Application
Interested applicants should submit:
- Curriculum vitae
- A brief statement of research interests and relevant experience
- Contact information for three references
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
About Us
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Maryland’s public health, law, and human services university. Six professional schools and the interdisciplinary Graduate School confer the majority of health care, human services, and law professional degrees in Maryland each year.
Our goal is to support the University’s mission of education, research, clinical care, and public service by amplifying UMB’s voice as a thought and action leader, and to enhance goodwill in the communities and people with whom we engage. UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland.
UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, or any other legally protected classification.
If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request . You may also contact HRDiversity@umaryland.edu. Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read the UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination for more information.
UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland. Regular and contractual employee are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package
About the Team
The University of Maryland School of Medicine (SOM) was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world. SOM is dedicated to providing excellence in biomedical education, basic and clinical research, quality patient care and service to improve the health of the citizens of Maryland and beyond.
