Are you interested in the nexus between gut microbiota, behavior, and evolution? Athena Aktipis PhD may have a job opportunity for you. Athena is my collaborator and co-author on the recent Bioessays article “Is eating behavior manipulated by the gastrointestinal microbiota? Evolutionary pressures and potential mechanisms.” I cut and pasted from the announcement below:

The Department of Psychology at Arizona State University invites applications for a Postdoctoral scholar in Microbiome, Evolution and Behavior. A postdoctoral position is available in Dr. Athena Aktipis’s lab for individuals with a PhD in Biology, Psychology or related discipline to work on the role of the microbiome (and biome) in health and human behavior using an evolutionary approach.  There has been recent rapid progress in our understanding of the importance of the microbiome in human health and the role of the gut-brain axis in shaping cognitive and behavioral predispositions.  This position will use experimental and modeling approaches to investigate the evolutionary pressures and proximate mechanisms shaping human-microbe interactions including addressing questions such as (1) Does the microbiome directly or indirectly influence human eating preferences? (2) Are taste/smell perception and the disgust response influenced by the microbiome? (3) Are human social behaviors and mating behaviors influenced by the microbiome?  To be eligible for these positions, applicants must have training in evolutionary biology and methodological expertise in human laboratory experiments and/or microbiome analysis. Other desired qualifications include training in statistical analysis and computational modeling.

Scholars will be part of a highly interdisciplinary research team in Dr. Aktipis’ lab and also be part of a larger community of interdisciplinary researchers at Arizona State University in the Department of Psychology, the Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity and the Center for Evolution and Medicine. The Department of Psychology on the Tempe campus is among the largest and most popular departments at ASU. Interactions among faculty and students across the department are central to a variety of ongoing research and educational programs. These interactions allow our faculy  to grow their expertise in both teaching and scholarship. Faculty and students are actively involved with a number of other centers, institutes, and research groups on campus that promote transdisciplinary approaches to issues of local and national significance, affording outstanding research and training experiences that extend beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Psychology is a hub department that makes an important contribution to the advancement of ASU as a leader of knowledge generation and utilization.

To apply, please submit to aktipis@asu.edu as a single pdf document the following materials: 1) a cover letter specifying relevant qualifications and training, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) statement of current research interests and expertise (2 page maximum), 4) two letters of reference, and 5) one peer-reviewed publication. Please include “Application for Microbiome, Evolution and Behavior Postdoctoral Scholar JOB#11058 in the email subject line. Initial review of applications will begin on February 1, 2015; if not filled, review will continue every week thereafter until the search is closed. A background check is required for employment.

Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html    https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/

Categories: Uncategorized

Joe Alcock

Emergency Physician, Educator, Researcher, interested in the microbiome, evolution, and medicine