A postdoctoral position is available immediately in the laboratory of Dr. Zhongde Wang (https://caas.usu.edu/directory/wang-zhongde) at Utah State University. The Wang laboratory is supported by multiple R01s, R21s, an U18, and an U19 grants from the NIH, as well as by other funding agencies. The postdoctoral associate to be hired will conduct  research projects focusing on intentional genetic alterations (IGAs) in chickens (e.g., gene editing, gene knockout/knockin, and transgenesis, etc.) to improve chicken disease resistance, production performance, and the use of IGA chickens as human disease models or bioreactors for therapeutic production.

Candidates with PhD, MD, or DVM degrees in poultry science, animal science, genetic engineering, molecular and cellular biology, reproduction biology, or stem cell biology are encouraged to apply. Preferences will be given to the candidates who have research expertise in working with chicken primordial stem cells, CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene editing, or transposon-mediated transgenesis in poultry. Please send the CV, a cover letter (outlining previous experience and career goals), and contact information of three references to Dr. Zhongde Wang; email: zonda.wang@usu.edu. Initial review of application materials will start on October 15, 2024.  Positions will remain open until filled

• The successful candidate will be expected to lead the aforementioned research projects centered on genomic engineering in poultry (chickens). 
• Successful candidate will collaborate with other research participants, including postdoctoral scientists, graduate and undergraduate student researchers, technicians, and develop, validate and/or employ methodologies required to complete the project objectives.
• This collaborative work will include experimental design, grant application development, and data analysis.

Minimum Qualifications:

• D., MD, or DVM degree in poultry science, molecular/cellular biology, animal science, genetics or related field providing appropriate expertise.
• Substantial experience in working with chicken primordial germ cells
• Experience and familiarity working with CRISPR/Cas or/and transposons
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative setting

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in assisted reproduction techniques (e.g., IVF, PN injection, ICSI, SCNT, OPU, etc.) in rodents or livestock
• Experience in ES/iPS/SS cells, particularly in using these types of cells for producing genetically engineered animals
• Experience in epigenetics analyses (e.g., DNA methylation by bisulfite sequencing, histone modification by ChIP or, etc.)
• A demonstrated track record of publication of research

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

Utah State University is located in Logan/Cache Valley (http://www.loganut.org; http://www.cachechamber.com), a northern Utah population center of over 100,000 residents. Nestled in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains, Logan is 80 miles northeast of Salt Lake City and within a day’s driving distance of six national parks. Its close proximity to ski resorts, lakes, rivers, and mountains makes it one of the finest recreation environments in the nation. The area has excellent schools, a low crime rate, and a flourishing arts scene.  Utah State University (http://www.usu.edu) is a Carnegie Doctoral Higher Research Activity Land-Grant Institution with an enrollment of 27,662 students.

The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences is one of eight academic colleges at Utah State University. CAAS is the home to six diverse departmental units as well as USU’s School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2016, USU was identified by Campus Explorer as the top school in the US for students preparing for agriculture-related careers. For more information about the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and/or its constituent departments, please visit https://caas.usu.edu/.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023