Postdoctoral Research Scholar - PMB

The Postdoctoral Research Scholar is invited to join the Lyu lab and lead cross-boundary microbiology research in one or more research projects depending on mutual interests. Research in the lab receives funding from the NIH, USDA, NC State, industry, and private-public partnership. Current microorganisms of interest include oxygen-sensitive archaea, such as methane producers (methanogens), and bacteria, including syntrophic hydrogen producers (syntrophs), hydrogen sulfide producers (sulfidogens), and fermenters.

Candidates are encouraged to fill out the trainee’s interest form (https://forms.gle/LLSBqrB6p2ZfJqxRA) before applying to this position.

The successful candidate will contribute to our research by:

1. Modernizing classical microbiology approaches to discover and characterize physiology-relevant phenotypes.
2. Integrating omics, genetic, and biochemical approaches to investigate physiology-determining mechanisms.
3. Developing experimental models to evaluate the impact of archaeal and/or bacterial physiology in health, agriculture, environment, or biotechnology.

Other Work/Responsibilities

• Train and supervise graduate and undergraduate students, and visiting collaborators/scholars.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement and Leave
• Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
• Enhance your career with LEAD courses
• Attend non-revenue generating sporting events for free.

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday / 8am - 5pm

Department Required Skills

• PhD in a field related to microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, or molecular/cell biology.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, demonstrated through publications and presentations.
• Ability to set clear scientific and technical goals, propose and execute hypothesis-driven experiments, and achieve productive and interpretable results in a timely manner.
• Strong motivation to lead and contribute to publications, presentations, and grant proposals.
• Ability to train and supervise graduate and undergraduate students and visiting scholars.
• Strong skills in documenting research data and activities by following the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles.

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education

• Experience in one or more of the following: anaerobic microbiology (Hungate technique/anaerobic chamber); cell biology (microscopic techniques/flow cytometry); analytical chemistry (GC, GC-MS, LC-MS); genetic engineering (gene knockout/heterologous expression); and omics experiments and data analysis (shotgun metagenomics, transcriptomics, or metabolomics).
• Proficiency with ELNs (electronic lab notebooks) and data analysis platforms such as R, Python, JMP, etc.
• Ability to quickly acquire complementary skills through self-learning, supervised training, and/or collaboration.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a highly collaborative team

Required License or Certification: N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required?: No

Commercial Driver's License Required?: No

Anticipated Hiring Range: $60,000 – $66,000 (commensurate with experience)

Job Open Date: 08/03/2026

Quick Link: https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/233465