Job Description - The Skellam lab is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the field of biotechnology to investigate the reconstruction of fungal secondary metabolite pathways in a plant host. The project is highly interdisciplinary and will require knowledge and experience of molecular biology, cell biology, and analytical chemistry including structural elucidation of molecules using mass spectrometry and other spectroscopic techniques. The successful candidate will join a team consisting of two other postdoctoral research associates, and graduate students in a highly collaborative environment. This project provides opportunities to learn additional techniques such as confocal microscopy, transcriptomics, and NMR spectroscopy.

Responsibilities - Further responsibilities include the day-to-day management of the project, manuscript and proposal writing, presenting original research internally and externally at meetings and conferences, and mentoring students at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Qualifications - Minimum Qualifications• The candidate should have completed their PhD in biochemistry or a related field and have experience and interest in biotechnological production of natural products• Experience with molecular biology techniques such as gene cloning, plasmid construction, PCR, RT-PCR, Western blots and bioinformatic skills to aide in experimental design• Experience with agrobacterium-mediated transformation• Knowledge of methods for natural product detection, isolation, and structural elucidation from plants• Ability to work independentlyPreferred Qualifications• Experience with small molecule isolation and structural elucidation using LCMS and NMR techniques• Proficiency with protein structural predictions, protein purification, and enzymology• Knowledge of secondary metabolism in fungi and plants• Good interpersonal skills and a team-working attitude• Interest in training and mentoring students

Contact - Elizabeth Skellam, elizabeth.skellam@unt.edu

Post End Date - 07/31/2025