Post-doctoral research fellow, microbiome science Full-time

The Hecht Lab at Mayo Clinic is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative postdoctoral research fellow. The successful candidate will have a strong interest in basic and translational research focused on how the gut microbiome influences gastrointestinal and liver diseases, and how diet can be leveraged to shape microbial function and disease outcomes. Aaron Hecht, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician-scientist in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. His lab studies how dietary nutrients interact with microbial metabolism to drive microbial evolution, host inflammation, and susceptibility to infection and liver injury. The lab integrates microbial genetics, host-microbe interactions, gnotobiotic mouse modeling, multi-omics, and imaging technologies to uncover novel mechanisms at the interface of diet, microbes, and host pathophysiology.

Research areas in the lab include:

• Dietary regulation of gut microbial colonization and evolution
• Mechanisms of bacterial translocation and systemic infection
• The role of the microbiome in liver disease and injury
• Cross-feeding, nutrient competition, and microbial community dynamics
• Microbiome-based approaches to reduce disease risk

The Hecht Lab is embedded within the highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment of the Microbiomics Program at the Mayo Clinic, with access to state-of-the-art core facilities, human biospecimens, and translational expertise.

The Research Fellow will be expected to lead projects from experimental design through analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation. They will have the opportunity to present at national meetings, mentor trainees and contribute to high-impact publications. Candidates should have a Ph.D. or M.D. (or equivalent degrees) with training in microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, or a related field. Experience with microbial genetics, gnotobiotic or mouse models, host-microbe interactions, and/or bioinformatics is desirable. The ideal applicant will be intellectually curious, collaborative, and excited to drive forward innovative projects with translational relevance.

Qualifications

Must have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in a field deemed relevant by the program. Research Fellow is appropriate for individuals who have completed no more than one prior postdoctoral fellowship, at Mayo Clinic or elsewhere.

Tagged as: Life Sciences