Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the state’s flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation’s legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify you from employment.

JIFSAN, a joint program of the University of Maryland and the U.S. FDA, is seeking a full-time Post-Doctoral Associate position within the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).

The incumbent will participate in applied regulatory research for targeted and non-targeted DNA-based identification methods to target identification of plant based economic adulteration, toxic species or other botanicals of FDA relevance in foods and dietary supplements. The incumbent will collaboratively focus primarily on using next generation sequencing data to add to existing sequence databases and design assays to target species in foods and dietary supplements based on these sequences. There will be an additional focus on developing or using bioinformatic tools. The incumbent will receive training in validation of molecular based species identification tools to stand alone, and to complement established chemical methods. Duties will also include monitoring instrument performance metrics in lab quality assurance and control programs, as well as providing routine instrument maintenance and calibration service. Completed research studies are expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Specific Aims
1. Generate sequence data for plants deemed to be of interest. Sequencing will be carried out, using the Illumina Miseq as well as other next generation sequencing platforms. Vouchered and taxonomically identified source materials will be obtained from in-house and external collections and collaborators.
2. Assist in the development of DNA based assays for the analysis of complex mixtures for the presence of plant species.
3. Assist in the development of data analysis software or pipelines for next generation sequencing data and software-based approaches for the identification of plants, contaminants and adulterants in foods and dietary supplements.
4. Present data at scientific meetings and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Sequence authenticated plant specimen of FDA interest using next generation sequencing technology. (30%)
2. Develop non-targeted and targeted methods to identify plant species in foods and dietary supplements. (30%)
3. Develop and/or use bioinformatic tools to identify plants in foods and dietary supplements. (20%)
4. Present data at meetings and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals. (10%)

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.