The Department of Biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth seeks a Post-Doctoral Associate to conduct research related to the development and application of pathway-based approaches to assess ecological risks of contaminants. Specifically, the candidate will focus on the description and development of adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) that link initial molecular changes in an organism due to chemical exposure to adverse outcomes at the individual- and population-levels (Ankley et al. 2010; Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 29: 730-741). Accordingly, the candidate will have an opportunity to work with and generate data at multiple biological levels of organization, including at the molecular, biochemical, histological, individual and population levels. Chemical stressors of interest will include a variety of environmental contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) including (but not limited to) those with the potential to impact survival, growth and reproduction through impacts on biological systems involved in energy metabolism, endocrine function, neurological processes and immunological responses. An important component of this effort will entail using existing in vitro and in vivo toxicological/biological information to hypothesize AOPs, followed by focused research to identify and expand upon key endpoints in proposed pathways. Primary species of concern from a research perspective will be aquatic vertebrates (fish and amphibians); however, given the conserved nature of many of the toxicological pathways likely to be of concern, the information/insights derived from the research efforts could have wide-ranging implications to multiple taxa, including humans.
This opportunity is supported through the Cooperative Training Partnership program between the University of Minnesota and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The selected applicant would be an employee of the University of Minnesota Duluth. but would be stationed and conduct research at the US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division located in Duluth, MN. The selected applicant will conduct independent research in coordination with a team of US EPA scientists from multiple sites as well as collaborators from other Federal agencies (e.g., US Army Corps of Engineers) and academic institutions. Mentoring will be provided by both University of Minnesota Duluth and US EPA staff.
Job Responsibilities:
* Conduct data analyses and research related to the derivation and validation of AOPs relevant to assessing ecological risk of chemicals.
* Integration and interpretation of complex data sets which may include toxicological, physiological and genomic (e.g., transcriptomic, metabolomics) data as a basis for deriving and comparing key biological pathways in different species.
* Development of research plans
* Communication of research results both written and orally.
* Coordination of research activities with a local project team as well as external project partners and collaborators.
The University of Minnesota requires that you apply online for this position via the University of Minnesota Employment System at:employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=122761. Alternatively, visit http://employment.umn.edu and search for Job Requisition 193070.
This opportunity is supported through the Cooperative Training Partnership program between the University of Minnesota and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The selected applicant would be an employee of the University of Minnesota Duluth. but would be stationed and conduct research at the US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division located in Duluth, MN. The selected applicant will conduct independent research in coordination with a team of US EPA scientists from multiple sites as well as collaborators from other Federal agencies (e.g., US Army Corps of Engineers) and academic institutions. Mentoring will be provided by both University of Minnesota Duluth and US EPA staff.
Job Responsibilities:
* Conduct data analyses and research related to the derivation and validation of AOPs relevant to assessing ecological risk of chemicals.
* Integration and interpretation of complex data sets which may include toxicological, physiological and genomic (e.g., transcriptomic, metabolomics) data as a basis for deriving and comparing key biological pathways in different species.
* Development of research plans
* Communication of research results both written and orally.
* Coordination of research activities with a local project team as well as external project partners and collaborators.
The University of Minnesota requires that you apply online for this position via the University of Minnesota Employment System at:employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=122761. Alternatively, visit http://employment.umn.edu and search for Job Requisition 193070.
