Institution: Michigan State University

Location: East Lansing, MI

We are looking to hire a postdoctoral scholar to study the effects of climate change on coral bleaching through a project funded by the National Science Foundation of the USA. This project involves study of the metabolome and microbiome of corals in Hawaii, USA during their response to thermal stress. The scholar will work on both live coral in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, including numerous field experiments and site visits, and controlled biochemical and microbiological studies of their symbiotic algae at Michigan State University. The project involves complex analysis of metabolomics data coupled with molecular biology and genetic manipulation of culturable marine algae. The goals of the project are to understand how unique lipids (betaine lipids) in symbiotic algae allow corals to resist bleaching under thermal stress. Skills required for the position are broad and include mass spectrometry, microbiology, molecular biology and genetic techniques, as well as marine biology and field sampling experience.