Systems Biology Fellowship Program
The completion of the human genome sequence as well as the genome sequences of other organisms has provoked both the challenge and the technical capabilities for understanding how the numerous, genome-coded cellular constituents function, both spatially and temporally, together within the living cell. This approach, called systems biology, requires a new type of scientist, who can work in multidisciplinary teams, handle large data sets, and use both biological and computational approaches. The Systems Biology Fellowship (SBF) Program at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is designed to train scientists at the postdoctoral level in this new discipline.
Features of the PNNL Postdoctoral Experience
The SBF Program helps to educate students and scientists to meet the demanding multidisciplinary challenges of systems biology research.
The SBF program will provide interactive, hands-on training at the postdoctoral level in the new discipline of systems biology. Postdoctoral training will nclude mentored research within multidisciplinary systems biology teams, the availability of advanced technologies at PNNL, and comprehensive training opportunities to complement the Fellows' previous knowledge. Based on each Fellow's specific background and training needs, workshops or formal courses in areas such as bioinformatics, computational biology, or molecular biology will be provided. A seminar course will introduce Fellows to new findings in the area of systems biology and provide a forum for interaction between various laboratories engaged in systems biology on the PNNL campus.
Research Opportunities
Some of the SBF research areas include: mechanisms of oxidative stress response, biological aging, carcinogenesis, understanding cell proliferation, differentiation and survival, spatial regulation of signal transduction, interrogative cell signaling, the role of post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions in cell signaling, environmental sensing in microbes, and microbial communities. Fellows will be able to utilize conventional and advanced research capabilities in solving complex biological problems. Resources and technical capabilities include: mass spectrometry and proteomics, computational biology and bioinformatics, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and a variety of cell imaging capablities.
Fellowship Appointment Criteria
Graduates who have earned a Ph.D. within the last five years in biochemistry, biophysics, chemistry, cell biology, computer science, engineering, or molecular biology and who are highly motivated with good communication skills and a desire to train in multidisciplinary teams focusing on systems biology are encouraged to apply. Appointments are awarded for up to three years. Applications will be reviewed on a continual basis for appointments to coordinate with the annual November start date of the program.
If you are interested in applying for a fellowship, fill out the Intent to Apply form.
For additional information about the program, contact Diana Bigelow.
Location
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is located in North Richland, Washington. Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick form the Tri-Cities, where the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima Rivers meet. This area, situated between the Cascades and the Blue Mountains, boasts a sunny desert climate and the nearby Hanford Reach National Monument, the Nation's newest wilderness area. Numerous outdoor activities are available, such as skiing, hiking, white water rafting, and bicycling. More cosmopolitan pleasures are available in nearby Portland and Seattle.
For more information about the Tri-Cities and PNNL, take our video tours.
Washington State University, Tri-Cities Campus
Established in 1989, Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities is an urban campus of WSU that provides upper-division undergraduate and graduate study opportunities. The campus is located in North Richland adjacent to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, one of DOE's multiprogram national laboratories, and also to DOE's Hanford Site, which is one of the largest environmental restoration projects in the country.
