Position Description:
Boston University’s Marlow Lab is recruiting both a PhD student and postdoctoral scholars for NASA-funded research projects, beginning Fall 2025. The PhD student will focus on cultivating methanotrophic microbes in a microfluidic system, while postdocs are encouraged to develop collaborative research proposals related to environmental microbiology, astrobiology, and geobiology.
Qualifications:
Candidates should be creative, self-motivated problem-solvers with a strong interest in environmental microbiology, astrobiology, or geobiology. Relevant skills include culture-independent methods, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and stable isotope probing.
Preferred Qualifications:
Applicants with experience in research cruises, field work, molecular biology bench work, microfluidics, bioinformatics, and confocal fluorescence microscopy are highly encouraged.
Research Topics/Area:
Primary areas of research include environmental microbiology, astrobiology, geobiology, and microbial cultivation in microfluidic systems, with applications in understanding extraterrestrial life potential.
Project Details:
The PhD student will conduct NASA-funded research on cultivating methanotrophic microbes in microfluidic environments. Postdoctoral scholars have the opportunity to collaborate on related projects and develop funded proposals aligned with the lab’s research priorities.
Funding:
Funding for the PhD position is anticipated through the NASA grant, with additional support available through fellowships. Prospective PhD students are encouraged to apply for NSF Graduate Student Fellowship, NDSEG, and FINESST program funding. Postdoctoral candidates are encouraged to secure external fellowships, such as the NSF Biology, Earth Sciences, and Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships, the Simons Foundation Fellowship, the Agouron Geobiology Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Postdoctoral Scholars:
- NSF Biology Postdoctoral Fellowship
- NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship
- NSF Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Simons Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Marine Microbial Ecology
- Agouron Geobiology Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (for members of underrepresented groups)
Graduate Students:
- NSF Graduate Student Fellowship (GRFP)
- National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)
- Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST)
- Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship Award
Apply:
To apply, send an email to jjmarlow@bu.edu with:
- A brief description (2-3 sentences) of your scientific interests
- Specific research questions you’d like to pursue in the lab (~a paragraph)
- Details of any relevant research experience
- Current CV and unofficial transcript (for graduate students) as attachments
Applications for the PhD position are due by December 4th, 2024.
About PI/Dr. Marlow:
Dr. Marlow’s research focuses on environmental microbiology and astrobiology, particularly the cultivation of methanotrophic microbes and related microbial systems, with an emphasis on innovative microfluidic techniques.
Application Deadline:
December 4th, 2024 (for PhD applications).
About University:
Boston University offers a dynamic research environment with leading programs in Ecology, Behavior, Evolution, and Cell & Molecular Biology, as well as robust support for diversity in STEM.
About the Location:
Boston, Massachusetts, is a leading academic and scientific hub with rich professional opportunities and a collaborative scientific community, ideal for research in microbiology, biotechnology, and astrobiology.