Job Description
The research groups of Dr. Bing Ma at the Center for Advanced Microbiome Research & Innovation (CAMRI), Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS), Department of Microbiology and Immunology (MMI), and Dr. Jonathan Bromberg at the Department of Surgery and MMI, University of Maryland School of Medicine seek applicants for a postdoctoral scholar position. The fellow will be co-mentored by Drs. Ma and Bromberg and will work at the interface of microbiology, microbiome science, host–microbe interactions, immunology, and translational therapeutics.
Responsibilities
Qualified candidates will be enthusiastic, highly motivated, and interested in understanding how gut microorganisms influence host physiology and disease and in developing microbiome-based therapeutic strategies. The research will focus on 1) how chronic immunosuppressive therapies reshape the gut microbiome and microbial metabolic functions; 2) how specific microorganisms and microbiome-derived metabolites interact with host immune and tissue responses to influence transplant outcomes; and 3) discovery, mechanistic characterization, and preclinical development of beneficial microbes, probiotics, defined microbial consortia, and postbiotics to restore host–microbiome homeostasis and improve clinical outcomes.
A major emphasis of the position will be experimental and mechanistic microbiology. We have a strong preference for microbiologists with experience in microbial cultivation and working knowledge in computational analysis of omics data or, equally, computational biologists/statisticians with a deep appreciation of microbiology, microbial physiology, and biological mechanisms. Projects may involve isolation and cultivation of anaerobic gut microorganisms, strain-level phenotyping, microbial physiology and metabolism, host–microbe interaction studies, manipulation of microbial communities, and functional evaluation of candidate probiotic strains and microbial metabolites in cellular and animal models. The fellow will have opportunities to translate discoveries from human cohorts into experimentally testable microbial interventions and to investigate their mechanisms of action.
The program combines microbial cultivation, molecular microbiology, immunology, metabolomics, and animal models with genomic and multi-omics technologies. Depending on the project, approaches may include microbial genome sequencing, metagenomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, single-cell or spatial profiling, and computational analysis. These technologies will be used primarily to identify microbial functions, define mechanisms of probiotic or postbiotic activity, and guide development of microbiome-directed therapeutics.
The ideal applicant is expected to:
- have experience with or a strong interest in anaerobic microbial cultivation, isolation and characterization of gut microorganisms, bacterial physiology, and experimental manipulation of microbial communities;
- have a strong foundation in microbiology, microbial physiology, molecular biology, microbial ecology, or host–microbe interactions;
- be interested in the development and functional characterization of probiotics, commensal microorganisms, microbial consortia, or microbiome-derived metabolites as therapeutic candidates;
- conduct mechanistic studies using microbial culture systems, molecular approaches, host-cell assays, and/or animal models;
- possess a working knowledge of genomic sciences, sequencing technologies, and microbiome and multi-omics analyses, including microbial genomics, metagenomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics; experience with computational analysis of such data is advantageous but not required as the primary area of expertise (training in relevant analytical approaches will be available);
- lead research projects from experimental design and microbial cultivation through functional validation, data interpretation, presentation, and publication;
- work effectively both independently and within a multidisciplinary team spanning microbiology, immunology, transplantation, genomics, and translational research.
The successful candidate will join a highly interactive research environment with extensive expertise and infrastructure for microbiology, immunology, multi-omics, computational biology, and preclinical therapeutic development. The position provides a particular opportunity for a scientist interested in moving from fundamental microbial biology toward mechanism-based probiotic and microbiome therapeutics.
Qualifications
Doctoral degree in Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Systems Biology, or a related field.
Additional inquiries about the position can be sent to Drs. Bing Ma ( bma@som.umaryland.edu ) and Jonathan Bromberg ( jbromberg@som.umaryland.edu ).
Interested applicants should submit a CV, a statement of research interests (2 pages maximum), and contact information for three references.
Consideration of candidates will begin upon receipt of applications and will continue 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.
