Postdoctoral Scholar - Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging

The mission of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (HNRCA) is to promote healthy aging through nutrition science to empower people seeking to enjoy long, active, and independent lives. HNRCA investigators conduct the world's most advanced studies on nutrition and aging. The research focuses on determining the nutrient and physical activity requirements necessary to promote well-being for older adults. HNRCA scientists examine how nutrition and physical activity play a major role in the prevention of the major chronic degenerative conditions and diseases associated with aging.

This position is grant funded and is not eligible for severance pay.

The HNRCA invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellow position within the Precision Nutrition and Healthy Aging group, under the mentorship of Dr. Bruce Kristal. This role focuses on two interconnected projects that broadly address precision nutrition and health optimization in broad, aging populations. Current projects include:

• Population-Science Focused Project: Conducting data analyses and drafting manuscripts linking plasma lipids with demographic, physiological, and disease-related characteristics in a broad, older cohort, with a primary focus on a case-control study of future risk for type II diabetes.
  
  
• Integrative Project: Working with outside collaborators, the post-doc will integrate information obtained from mechanistically-focused experiments into the above diabetes datasets. This work will involve biomarker development, validation, and utilization.

These projects pose complex and impactful challenges, and as they evolve, this position may offer multiple paths and opportunities for growth and long-term career advancement.

Responsibilities:

• Analyze data and draft manuscripts related to lipidomics and population-level studies of human health.
• Lead projects that result in first-author publications; contribute to collaborative studies.
• Work closely with interdisciplinary collaborators from areas such as informatics, epidemiology, and nutrition.
• Participate actively in group meetings and collaborate on larger, multidisciplinary projects.
• Assist with grant writing and progress reporting for research funding

Basic Requirements:

• A doctoral degree in a field relevant to the position, such as population biology/epidemiology, nutrition, lipid metabolism, bioinformatics, biochemistry, physiology, or a related discipline.

• Technical Proficiency: A solid foundation in quantitative data analysis and proficiency in one or more relevant fields, such as informatics, metabolomics, lipidomics, nutrition, epidemiology, or population studies. Experience in broad populations is particularly valued.
• Problem-Solving Orientation: Enthusiasm for tackling complex research questions and developing novel methods and workflows as needed.
• Independent and Collaborative Research Skills: Ability to conduct self-directed research as well as work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams. Candidates should be able to identify when to seek expertise from other disciplines and collaborate effectively to resolve challenges.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with the capacity to produce multiple first-author papers per year. The successful candidate should be comfortable and adept at clear and efficient scientific writing.
• Attention to Detail: High standards of thoroughness in record-keeping and completing work tasks

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams

Working Conditions:

• Must be able to multi-task in a fast-moving environment, while working calmly and thoughtfully towards solutions.
• May work with and be exposed to hazardous chemicals and materials