Category: announcement

Post-Doc position in the KZLab! Immune responses to pathogen infections in frogs

We are looking for an NSF-funded post-doc in our lab in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. The work will examine immune mechanisms that potentially underlie susceptibility of frogs to the chytrid fungus Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). Specifically, the project entails characterizing T-cell receptors in experimental populations of bullfrogs under different growth conditions, to assess the plasticity of receptors and their downstream effect on host tolerance to the pathogen. Our lab has a long history of studies in this host-pathogen system, and we are looking for someone to extend these analyses to include experimental manipulation of hosts. The postdoctoral candidate will have the opportunity to interact closely with co-PIs at the University of Rochester (Jacques Robert), the University of Central Florida (Anna Savage), and Vanderbilt University (Ann Tate).

The postdoctoral candidate will be encouraged to carry out independent work. There is a wide variety of research going on in the lab in addition to the current project. For more details on our work, please see zamudiolab.org

The candidate must have a Ph.D. at time of appointment, preferably in biology, immunology, population genomics, or related field. The position will require experience in working with frogs (in lab and/or field), molecular methods for collection of genomic data, and strong bioinformatic skills. Salary commensurate with experience.

To apply, please submit i) a letter of application, (ii) a full CV, iii) a brief statement of research interests, and (iv) contact information for three references. Review of applications will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Start date can be as early as September 2025, but negotiable.

Inquiries and applications can be directed to Kelly Zamudio (kelly.zamudio@austin.utexas.edu).

The University of Texas, Austin has an active group in evolutionary genomics, herpetology, disease ecology and considerable genomic and bioinformatic resources. Austin is situated in the scenic Texas Hill Country. The cultural environment provided by the University and the City of Austin is exceptionally rich in art, music, and entertainment.

Welcome Chloé Allen!

We are so happy to have recruited Chloé Allen to the KZ Lab! Chloé attended the University of Northern Georgia as an undergrad, where she gathered research experience working on toads and their parasites. She also did an REU at the California Academy of Sciences working with Rayna Bell on African puddle frogs. Welcome to the lab Chloé!

Welcome to three new grad students in the lab!

Three new grad students are joining the lab! We are super excited to have them and build our new UT group! Céline Carneiro (left) joins us from University of Florida and her work focuses on genomics and biodiversity. Rebecca Clemons (center) is coming from University of Michigan and her interests are in disease ecology. And Britt White (right) is already at UT and a new member of the lab co-advised with Justin Havird; her interests are in the evolution of color polymorphism in lizards.

Looking forward to some great science in the next years!

KZ lab @UTAustin is recruiting! Graduate and Post-doc applications welcome this Fall

The Zamudio Lab will be recruiting graduate students to begin in the EEB Graduate Program at UT Austin in Fall 2022. Information about the graduate application process and the lab can be found here.

This Fall we will also be recruiting at least one post-doc to begin in 2022. More details on post-doc openings will be posted in late October 2021 – keep an eye out for that announcement here and on Twitter (@KZ_UTAustin). If you are interested in developing a project for an independent post-doctoral position, please contact me so we can discuss potential projects.