NRC Post-doc/Visiting Researcher, Life Sciences Research Center US Air Force Academy
To work with a team investigating the unique properties of microbial photosynthetic extremophiles and developping novel genetic engineering systems for these organisms.
Description and Background
The Life Sciences Research Center’s (LSRC) primary mission is to support the Air Force’s research programs at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL) through faculty and cadet research efforts. The center is focused on discovering and understanding basic mechanisms used by photosynthetic microorganisms to transfer energy and survive in extreme environments, and on developing methods to make them tractable to genetic manipulation. Comparing the genetic basis of these mechanisms across different species and/or environments may reveal potential foci for genetic engineering of designer organisms with increased growth tolerances and/or metabolic efficiency. These research thrusts have applications for the U.S. Air Force ranging from protein stability under harsh conditions to energy transfer across biotic/abiotic interfaces to the development of biosensors for threat detection and mitigation.
References
Hallenbeck PC et al. Draft Genome Sequence of a Thermophilic Cyanobacterium from the Family Oscillatoriales (Strain MTP1) from the Chalk River, Colorado, Genome Announcements, 4 (2016) e01571-01515.
Hallenbeck PC et al. M. Grogger, M. Mraz, D. Veverka, Draft Genome Sequence of the Photoheterotrophic Chloracidobacterium thermophilum Strain OC1 Found in a Mat at Ojo Caliente, Genome Announcements, 4 (2016) e01570-01515.
Hallenbeck, PC et al. M. Grogger, D. Veverka, Recent Advances in Microbial Electrocatalysis, Electrocatalysis, 5 (2014) 319-329.
Qualifications
Applications are encouraged from individuals with a background in phycology, microbiology, biochemistry, extremophile physiology, electrochemistry, DNA sequence analysis, bioinformatic platforms or genetic engineering, and experience with thermophiles, psychrophiles, microbial fuel cells (MFCs), desiccation tolerant organisms, including desert crust microbiota, isolation and identification of photosynthetic microorganisms, and developing methods for exogenous protein expression in algae or cyanobacteria.
How to Apply
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) participates in the National Research Council Research Associateship Program, sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
New openings are available and the specifics as well as application process can be accessed here: (
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/)
Some important notes for the interested applicant:
1) Must be a US citizen or green card holder
2) Experience and research background must align with our research as closely as possible
3) The NRC-RAP program is highly competitive, pays salary, travel and relocation expenses for one year with option to extend for an additional year depending on research productivity.
4) Applications run year round with application periods running each quarter (e.g., on-line application period is currently open with a subsequent application deadline of 1 February 2019)
5) Thus opportunity is under “Air Force Research Labs (AFRL), click at the top link, then move to left hand links for “search opportunities”, put in my last name “Veverka” or “Extremophiles” for keyword and our opportunity should pop-up (13.04.05.B8432).
6) Click on the “apply now” link to start the process.
