Postdoctoral Fellow - Bioinformatics and Comparative Genomics

A postdoctoral training position is currently available in the Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch (CSGB) of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). The position is in the laboratory of Andy Baxevanis, Ph.D., whose research group uses comparative genomics approaches to better-understand the molecular innovations that drove the surge of diversity in early animal evolution. The overarching theme of Dr. Baxevanis’ research program is focused on how non-traditional animal models can be used to convey critical insights into human disease research, in line with the NIH Intramural Research Program’s renewed emphasis on developing new animal models for the study of basic biology.

With this translational context in mind, Dr. Baxevanis’ group is currently leading international efforts to analyze the sequences and study the biology of two cnidarian species: Hydractinia and Podocoryna. The regenerative abilities of these colonial hydrozoans make them excellent models for the study of key questions related to pluripotency, allorecognition, and stem cell biology, work that will be significantly advanced by the availability of high-quality whole-genome sequencing data from these organisms. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to develop and apply bioinformatic approaches to these and other large-scale genomic data sets, focusing on the evolution of specific protein families and biological pathways that have putative roles in disease causation.

Postdoctoral traineeships are not available to scientists who have more than five years of relevant research experience since the receipt of their most recent doctoral degree.

The NIH is dedicated to building a community in its training and employment programs and encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.

The NIH Intramural Research Program is on the Bethesda, Maryland campus and offers a wide array of training opportunities for scientists early in their careers. The funding for this position is stable and offers the trainee wide latitude in the design and pursuit of their research project. The successful candidate will have access to NHGRI’s established and robust bioinformatics infrastructure, as well as a Top 500 high-performance computing resource available through NIH’s Center for Information Technology. For more information, please visit https://irp.nih.gov/pi/andy-baxevanis.

The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs.