Job Description

Position Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate for microbiome/ecology

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

1) Ph.D. in biology, microbiology, ecology, soil science, environmental science, applied mathematics, computer science, or other relevant disciplines is required.

2) Strong background in microbial ecology, microbial evolution, (meta)genomics, soil science, theoretical or mathematical ecology, or bioinformatics is required.

3) General programming or molecular experiment skills are required.

4) Excellent quantitative, writing, and presentation skills.

5) Experience publishing peer-reviewed publications.

Preferred Qualifications:

1) Demonstrated ability to direct and run independent research project(s).

2) Knowledge and experience in developing or applying AI (machine learning, large language models) for microbiome research.

3) Multidisciplinary knowledge and research experience in ecology, microbiology, engineering, bioinformatics, computer science, mathematics, statistics, data mining, parallel programming, supercomputing, or cloud computing.

How To Apply

Interested individuals should send their curriculum vita, a description of research interests and accomplishments (e.g., publications), and the names and telephone numbers of at least three references to Dr. Jizhong Zhou ( jzhou@ou.edu ), Zheng Shi ( zheng.shi@ou.edu ), and Daliang Ning ( ningdaliang@ou.edu ). Salary will be commensurate with experience, expertise and skills. Further information can be found on the IEG web site:

About the Job

We are seeking multiple (2~3) highly motivated and collaborative postdocs with demonstrated skills in one or multiple areas of microbiome, microbial ecology and evolution, soil science, or computational biology. The positions are for, but not limited to, the following research topics: (1) microbiome responses to climate change, nutrient addition, or disturbances at the global scale; (2) predictive and mechanistic understanding of microbiome dynamics and functioning in nature and engineering systems (e.g., grassland, bioreactors, wastewater treatment systems, etc.); (3) microbial and plant-microbe interactions and soil health; (4) theory and mechanisms in microbial ecology and experimental and mathematical approaches to investigate; (5) microbial evolution and its roles in community dynamics and ecosystem functioning; (6) development and application of cutting-edge molecular techonology, e.g., long-read sequencing, CRISPR-CAS system, etc., for microbial ecology research; (7) development and application of AI-enhanced tools for the above research topics. The postdocs are encouraged to participate in other diverse research projects at the Institute for Environmental Genomics (IEG, ) if they are interested.

The postdocs will be employed in the Institute for Environmental Genomics (IEG) and the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Oklahoma and supervised by Jizhong Zhou, Zheng Shi, or Daliang Ning. The successful candidates will receive cross-training in professional and personal development, research collaboration, presentation and publication of results, proposal development, outreach, and mentoring. The positions include a competitive salary and health insurance. Review of applications will begin January 15, 2026, and will continue until the positions are filled. A near-term start date is desired.

About the Institute

The Institute for Environmental Genomics (), led by Dr. Jizhong Zhou, has state-of-the-art facilities for the study of microbial functional genomics, microbial ecology, metagenomics, mathematical modeling, and biotechnology development to address fundamental scientific questions. Our current projects include examining the impact of climate change on microbial communities and the global carbon cycle, understanding the global water microbiome, examining the response of microbial communities to contaminants (U, nitrate, pH, Cr) important to the U.S. DOE, designing bioinformatics tools for 'big data' analysis, developing and expanding high-throughput metagenomic tools and techniques such as microarrays, sequencing, and single-cell genomics to examine microbial communities, and developing gene manipulation tools using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, etc.

The University, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, gender identity/expression (consistent with applicable law), age (40 or older), religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, housing, financial aid, and educational services.

Why You Belong at the University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma values our community's unique talents, perspectives, and experiences. At OU, we aspire to harness our innovation, creativity, and collaboration for the advancement of people everywhere. You Belong Here!

Mission of the University of Oklahoma

The Mission of the University of Oklahoma is to provide the best possible educational experience for our students through excellence in teaching, research and creative activity, and service to the state and society.

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