Postdoctoral Research Associate

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

Business Title:

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The Opportunity:

The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University (WSU) invites you to apply for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to serve in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology.

As the incumbent, you will hold a 12-month annual, fixed-term, full-time, short-term appointment as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The position is located at the WSU Health Sciences campus in Spokane, WA. You will have an initial one (1) year contract, subject to annual extension. Renewal is subject to satisfactory performance, mutual consent and available funding.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate position is within the College of Medicine in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and reports to Franck Carbonero, Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology.

For questions or inquiries please contact Kaytlin Streufert at Kaytlin.streufert@wsu.edu.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will plan and conduct experiments and related research directed toward ultimate publication, prepare articles for publication. Participate in grant writing efforts, including seeking self-funding. Supervise graduate and/or undergraduate research assistants in conducting research projects and academic development. Additionally, they will provide some guest lectures in supervisor’s courses as relevant. Help with proctoring and grading tests, exams, and assignments.

Research projects are supported by three different USDA grants:

• In vitro fermentation and gut microbiome analyses of different varieties and food preparation of quinoa breeding lines and varieties.
• In vitro fermentation and gut microbiome/metabolomics/cell assays of different varieties of quinoa, pulses, buckwheat and non-traditional wheat and barley varieties.
• Human intervention trial with cranberry juice and gut microbiome/metabolome and vaginal tract microbiome analyses.

Duties and Responsibilities

90% Research

Plan and conduct experiments and related research directed toward ultimate publication, prepare articles for publication. Participate in grant writing efforts, including seeking self-funding. Supervise graduate and/or undergraduate research assistants in conducting research projects and academic development.

7% Teaching

Provide some guest lectures in supervisor’s (maybe other faculty members) courses as relevant. Help with proctoring and grading tests, exams, and assignments.

3% Service-Other

Participate in college and university committees; evaluate research proposals and grants. Other duties as assigned.

Position Sponsorship: May be eligible for visa sponsorship

Area/College: Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

Office/Department Name: Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology

Location: Spokane, WA

Department Link: Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology

This is a full-time (100% FTE), fixed-term position. This position is overtime eligible.
 

Temporary End Date:

This is a temporary position expected to end after a 1-year contract. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.

Annual Salary:

$62,232 - $70,344 | Commensurate with experience and education

The salary scale is in alignment with the Postdoctoral Research Associate NIH salary scale: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/salary-cap-stipends.

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Faculty and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications:

• An earned PhD in Nutrition, Food Science, Microbiology, or other relevant discipline.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Skills in molecular biology and microbiology, especially in microbiome and/or metagenomics techniques and statistical analyses.

• Experience conducting anaerobic microbiology and/or in vitro microbial fermentation studies.

• Experience with research projects evaluating the impact of food commodities on human nutrition and health through in vitro, animal models or in vivo approaches.

• Evidence of ability to analyze, interpret and disseminate findings through peer-reviewed scientific publications (first or corresponding author) and conference oral and/or poster communications.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Application Instructions:

Screening of applications will begin on March 16, 2026 and continue until the recruitment closes on April 26, 2026.

Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Curriculum Vitae
2) Cover Letter

External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.

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More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/