Postdoctoral selection call | NICE-MEL

SELECTION CALL – POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN MICROBIAL GENOMICS AND MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY

The Department of Medicine – Division of Infectious Diseases of the Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), through the Principal Investigator of the project, hereby announces the opening of applications for one (01) Postdoctoral Fellowship / Project Researcher position within a research programme focused on molecular epidemiology, microbial genomics, antimicrobial resistance, and the integration of laboratory and epidemiological data.

1. Position Overview

The selected candidate will contribute to the scientific activities associated with the project, including experimental planning, integration and interpretation of genomic data, epidemiological analyses, scientific output, and the development of national and international collaborations.

The fellowship is linked to the NICEMEL project (Neonatal ICU – Microbiome and Resistome), a prospective multicentre clinical cohort study investigating microbiome dynamics, shotgun metagenomics (WGS), and the antimicrobial resistome in very-low-birth-weight preterm neonates with late-onset neonatal sepsis. The study is being conducted in neonatal intensive care units at UNIFESP, UNICAMP, and UNESP, in collaboration with international laboratories.

2. Research Scope

The activities will involve close interaction with national and international collaborating research groups participating in the project, as well as coordination of all microbiological components of the clinical study. This role extends beyond laboratory activities in microbial genomics and biological data analysis and encompasses scientific planning, supervision of sample collection and processing workflows, coordination of laboratory activities, quality assurance, and integration of microbiological activities throughout the clinical phase of the project.

Given the longitudinal design of the study, the selected researcher will initially work in Brazil as the scientific coordinator of the project’s microbiological components, supervising laboratory activities during participant recruitment and sample collection.

This stage may, subject to FAPESP approval, be followed by a period of international research at Harvard Medical School in the United States, where the candidate will undertake activities in microbial genomics, bioinformatics, and integrated analyses of the biological data generated by the project.

During this phase, the researcher will participate in a project dedicated to studying microorganisms of clinical and public health relevance through integrated approaches involving:

a) microbial genomics, shotgun metagenomics (WGS), and microbiome characterisation by amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA and ITS) applied to clinical and environmental samples; b) characterisation of the antimicrobial resistome in preterm neonates and neonatal intensive care unit environments; c) large-scale biological data analysis; d) applied bioinformatics; e) integration of laboratory, clinical, and epidemiological databases; f) scientific dissemination and publication of research findings.

3. Fellowship Duration and International Mobility

The fellowship is expected to last up to 24 months, with the possibility of renewal for up to an additional 24 months, subject to the current regulations of the funding agency and satisfactory evaluation of the fellow’s performance.

The fellowship will be funded under FAPESP Project No. 2024/14614-5 and will include a monthly stipend of BRL 12,570.00 (Postdoctoral level), in accordance with FAPESP regulations, in addition to the research funds provided by the funding agency.

As an integral component of the proposed activities, the selected candidate may, subject to FAPESP approval, undertake a period of research abroad (“sandwich” research placement) of up to twelve (12) months, or according to the regulations in force at the time of the award, at a collaborating laboratory in the United States, in accordance with the project timeline and subject to institutional approvals and availability of funding.

4. Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must:

I. Hold a doctoral degree, or a certificate confirming completion of a doctoral degree, obtained from a recognised institution in a field compatible with the project proposal;

II. Demonstrate previous experience in scientific research;

III. Demonstrate previous hands-on experience in microbial genomics, including sequencing data analysis, preferably with experience in Staphylococcus aureus and other Gram-positive bacteria (for example, WGS and metagenomics), and/or bioinformatics workflows. This is a mandatory requirement;

IV. Demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English, as required for the international research period and scientific publication activities;

V. Demonstrate availability and interest in working within a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment, coordinating all microbiological aspects of the clinical study from its initial implementation, including laboratory organisation, supervision of sample workflows, and interaction with participating centres, before the commencement of microbial genomics and biological data analysis activities.

The following qualifications will be considered advantageous:

a) research experience in microbiome studies; b) experience in comparative bacterial genomics; c) experience using Linux-based tools for microbial genome analysis, as well as R, QIIME, Mothur, and DADA2 software; d) experience in molecular epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, or genomic surveillance; e) experience in programming, statistical analysis, or data science; f) experience with next-generation sequencing experiments using Illumina and/or Oxford Nanopore Technologies platforms; g) a relevant scientific publication record; h) previous experience in international scientific collaborations; i) preferably, experience with studies involving Staphylococcus aureus; experience with other Gram-positive and clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria will also be considered.

5. Application Process

Application period: 13 October 2026 to 10 November 2026.

Applications must be submitted exclusively by email to:

Contact: contact@nice-mel.org

Email subject: Application – Postdoctoral Fellowship – [Candidate’s Name]

Required application documents:

a) duly completed Application Form; b) updated CV (Currículo Lattes and/or equivalent international CV); c) letter of interest, maximum two pages; d) up to three publications considered by the candidate to be the most relevant to their scientific career; e) any additional documentation that the candidate considers relevant; f) names and contact details of two researchers who may serve as academic references and who may be contacted during the selection process.

6. Selection Process

The selection process may include:

I. Review of the submitted documentation; II. Assessment of the alignment between the candidate’s scientific background and the objectives of the project; III. Technical interview; IV. Discussion of the candidate’s previous research experience and prospects for scientific development.

Additional information or documentation may be requested if necessary.

7. Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated according to:

a) consistency and quality of the candidate’s scientific track record; b) technical and methodological expertise; c) potential contribution to the project’s objectives; d) ability to work independently and engage in scientific collaboration; e) alignment between the candidate’s previous experience and the proposed activities; f) potential for academic development and international engagement.

The final ranking will be based on an overall assessment of the submitted documents.

8. Selection Committee

The Selection Committee will consist of the project’s Principal Investigator and two additional members of the project team appointed by the Principal Investigator.

The Committee’s decisions shall be final and based on scientific and technical evaluation criteria.

9. Timeline

Publication of the call: 13 October 2026 Application period: 13 October 2026 to 10 November 2026 Announcement of eligible applications: 11 November 2026 Evaluation and interview period: 12 November 2026 to 18 November 2026 Announcement of final results: 19 November 2026 Expected start date: 1 December 2026

10. Final Provisions

Any matters not addressed in this Call shall be resolved by the Principal Investigator and the project team.

This Call may be amended, suspended, or cancelled due to the availability of financial resources, institutional requirements, or needs related to the development of the project.