What you will do
The successful candidate will develop models connecting evolution and epidemiology with the ultimate goal to predict and prevent human epidemics. Many viruses evolve rapidly and differently during various modes and rates of spread. This project will elucidate how the genetic evolution is linked to different spread patterns. The main virus to be studied is HIV, but other pathogens may become included in the project. We are looking for candidates with expertise in computational biology, evolutionary biology, and/or phylogenetics with interests in mathematical epidemiology.
This position may be jointly associated with the Center for Nonlinear Studies (http://cnls.lanl.gov/External/jobs.php) depending on the candidate and how the specific project is formulated.
What you need
Minimum job requirements:
The ideal candidate would have experience in the following areas:
- Experience with computer modeling
- Experience with genetic evolution modeling and phylogenetics
- Demonstrated ability to publish peer-reviewed papers
- Effective written and oral communication skills
- Scientific programming
Desired skills:
- Understanding of virus systems and pathogenesis
- Understanding of DNA sequence analyses
Education: PhD in related field within the past five years or soon to be completed. Must be complete by commencement of appointment.
Notes to applicants: Please attach your CV and a cover letter that highlights your unique skills and experiences and explains your interests in the opening. Please send your application to Thomas Kenneth Leitner, e-mailadress: tkl@lanl.gov
For further information you can also contact the above mentioned person.
Additional details:
No clearance: Position does not require a security clearance. Selected candidates will be subject to drug testing and other pre-employment background checks.
New-employment drug test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.
Candidates may be considered for a Director’s Fellowship and outstanding candidates may be considered for the prestigious Marie Curie, Richard P. Feynman, J. Robert Oppenheimer, or Frederick Reines Fellowships.
For generation information about the Postdoc Program go to http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/index.php
Equal opportunity:
Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regards to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to applyhelp@lanl.gov or call 1-505-665-4444 option 1.
Where you will work
Located in northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in trategic science on behalf of national security. LANL enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.
The Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group is one of six groups in the Laboratory’s renowned Theoretical Division. It was founded in 1974 and played a key role in establishing GenBank, the international HIV databases, and the rationale for combination therapy of HIV/AIDS. The scientific staff includes members of the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, as well as a winner of the E.O. Lawrence Award. Research in the group is focused on bioinformatics, simulation studies of biomolecules, and systems-level modeling, which is typically performed in collaboration with quantitative experimentalists. The US Department of Energy (DOE) and Los Alamos National Laboratory recognize that understanding complex biological systems is essential for public health and national security and strongly supports and encourages research in this area. The Group’s research is supported by numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health, such as “Reconstructing HIV Epidemics from HIV Phylogenetics” (R01 AI087520), which would sponsor this position.
Please send your application, including a detailed Curriculum Vitae to Thomas Kenneth Leitner, e-mailadaress: tkl@lanl.gov
For further information you can also contact the above mentioned person.