The Shrestha lab in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering (EHE) at Johns Hopkins University is seeking a postdoctoral researcher with strong computational and bioinformatics expertise to join the team starting in Fall 2026. The postdoc will work on projects advancing biomanufacturing technologies that leverage synthetic microbial consortia to recover biochemicals and biomaterials from waste biomass. A key aspect of this position involves developing community-based genome-scale metabolic models to simulate microbial community dynamics, integrate multi-omics datasets to elucidate metabolic interactions within synthetic consortia, and ultimately guide rational design efforts. They will also be responsible for validating computational predictions through laboratory experimentation. This position offers a unique opportunity to integrate laboratory experiments with computational biology, and work at the intersection of environmental biotechnology, microbiology, and metabolic modeling.
The postdoc will be also expected to mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the lab, contribute to collaborative research projects, and prepare reports and manuscripts for publication, among other scholarly activities, with the supervision of Dr. Shrestha. They will be encouraged to participate in grant writing, conference presentations, and professional and career development activities. More information about Dr. Shrestha’s lab can be found on the lab website and the department faculty page. This is a one-year appointment, with the possibility of extension, depending on performance and funding availability.
Required Qualifications:
- Ph.D in molecular biology, microbiology, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, computational biology, systems biology, or a related field.
- Experience with metabolic modeling tools and/or bioinformatic analysis of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic datasets
- Demonstrated expertise in coding and programming, with proficiency in Python, R, Matlab, or similar languages • Strong scientific writing and communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Background with machine learning applications for biological data analysis is a plus
- Experience with laboratory techniques such as microbial cultivation, sequencing, or molecular biology methods is a plus.
- Familiarity with analytical methods such as GC-FID, GC-MS, and HPLC.
How to apply:
Interested candidates should contact Dr. Shrestha at sshres33@jh.edu with “EHE-JHU Postdoc Application 2026” in the subject line. Please include the following documents as a single pdf:
- One page cover letter describing your background, relevant computational and research experience, why you are interested in this position, and your career goals.
- CV (with names and contact information of at least three references).
- Undergraduate and graduate degree transcripts.
- At least one peer-reviewed journal article demonstrating expertise in metabolic modeling, bioinformatics, or machine learning.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with priority given to applications received by July 31, 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a Zoom interview. Only complete applications meeting the required qualifications will be reviewed.