PhD Student Positions for Metagenomics Research : Philadelphia, PA

Job Description:

The Biochemical Signal Processing Lab (Drexel University,
Philadelphia, PA) is hiring motivated Ph.D. students in the
computational analysis of metagenomics data, with a particular
emphasis on machine learning and signal processing for taxonomic
classification, gene prediction, and comparative genomics.

The last few years have seen a revolution in the functional and
phylogenetic profiling of complete microbial communities through
next-generation environmental shotgun sequencing (metagenomics).
Recently, these approaches are being used to study the combined
genetic material of microbial communities that live in the soil,
ocean, and human body. The proposed research projects focus on
bioinformatics tool development to classify and interpret
next-generation sequencing data (Rosen et al, Current Genomics, in
Press). Applications are machine learning of taxonomic signatures
using Bayesian analysis (Rosen et al., Advances in Bioinformatics,
2008), support vector machines, as well as relational databases.
Methods are applied to public data, within the framework of existing
collaborations (with microbial ecologists, microbiologists, and
machine learning experts).

Drexel’s Biochemical Signal Processing Laboratory (BSPL) is an
exciting, interdisciplinary research institute with excellent
resources and collaborations. BSPL is located on the main Drexel
campus, with the University of Pennsylvania and the central train
station nearby.

Requirements (PhD students)
‐ Masters in Electrical Engineering, Bioinformatics, Computer Science,
or Bioengineering
- Desire to obtain PhD degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering, or Computer Science
‐ Excellent proficiency in Unix/Linux administration and shell scripting
‐ Good programming skills (Matlab, python/C/ocaml/ruby/etc, SQL) or
strong motivation to learn
- Highly motivated and good communication skills

Salary: $25,000 + Tuition

Contact
Interested candidates are encouraged to send their CV, along with a
letter stating their interest and contact details of two references to
metagenomics.phd@gmail.com. Informal inquiries can also be addressed
to the same email address.

For more information visit:
http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/jobs/101002-PhD-Student-Positions-for-Metagenomics-Research