BIOINFORMATICS POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE
*Position Summary:*
The newly established multidisciplinary Plant–Nematode–Microbe Interactions Laboratory at the University of Florida seeks a highly motivated recent Ph.D. graduate with a strong publication record in bioinformatics, computational biology, or molecular biology. The successful candidate will analyze multi-omics datasets to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying plant-nematode-microbe interactions and develop hypotheses for experimental validation. This postdoctoral position is based in the Department of Entomology and Nematology on UF's Gainesville campus and provides access to world-class computational resources, including the HiPerGator supercomputing cluster (4thgeneration NVIDIA Blackwell architecture), NaviGator AI, and the University's emerging agricultural AI center.
The successful candidate will also have opportunities to publish independently, mentor students, develop grant-writing skills, and establish an independent research profile.
*Expected Start Date:*
Fall 2026 or Spring 2027
*Position Duration:*
Initial appointment for one year with expectation of renewal for up to three years contingent upon satisfactory performance and funding availability.
*Minimum Qualifications:*
- A recent Ph.D. degree (within 3 years) in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genomics, Molecular Biology, Plant Sciences, Microbiology, or a closely related field.
- Experience and expertise in nematology is not required but preferred.
- Strong track record of lead author publication in computational analyses of omics data.
- Experience programming in Python and R, NGS workflows, Bash/shell scripting and statistical analysis of omics data.
- Experience with several of the following tools and workflows: Bowtie2, GATK, FastQC, edgeR, DESeq2, HISAT2, Scanpy, MaxQuant, or equivalent bioinformatics software. 
- Experience with high-performance computing environments, workflow management systems, or reproducible research practices is desirable but not required. 
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment. 
- Demonstrated interest in integrating molecular biology experiments with computational analyses. 
 
*Application Process:*
Applicants should submit the following materials to Dr. Haarith via email only (deepakrajendran@ufl.edu): 

1. Cover letter outlining the candidate’s interest and fit for the advertised position.
2. Curriculum vitae (CV) with a clear peer-reviewed original research publication record. 
3. Unofficial transcripts for all the University degrees earned. 
4. A 2-page research statement outlining the candidate’s research interests relevant to the laboratory. Applicants are encouraged to review resources for prospective lab members at deepakhaarith.com prior to preparing their research statement.
5. Contact information of at least 3 references.
For further policy information on salaries, benefits and compensation, please read: https://postdoc.aa.ufl.edu/policies--hiring/benefits-compensation-and-taxes/  

*Deadline to apply (via email only):*
All applications need to be sent in via email only (deepakrajendran@ufl.edu). Applications will remain open until 1 of August 2026 or until the position is filled. Incomplete applications and applicants not meeting the minimum requirements will not be considered.

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