Job Description
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: - CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants. This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
POSITION SPECIFICS The Mohanty Lab at Penn State (University Park campus) invites applications for a
Postdoctoral Researcher to join a highly interdisciplinary research program focused on decoding host-microbiome chemical communication using mass spectrometry, data science, and experimental biochemistry.
Research Focus The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to projects spanning:
- Untargeted and targeted LC-MS/MS based metabolomics
- Repository-scale metabolomics mining (GNPS/MassIVE, MetaboLights, Metabolomics Workbench)
- Discovery and characterization of microbial and host-derived metabolites
- Enzymology and biochemical characterization of metabolite-modifying enzymes
- Integration of metabolomics with microbial, dietary, drug, and aging-related phenotypes
Required Qualifications - Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Microbiology, Bioinformatics, or a related field
- Demonstrated research experience in at least one of the following areas:
- Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics or proteomics
- Enzyme biochemistry or mechanistic enzymology
- Microbial metabolism or molecular biology
- Computational analysis of high-dimensional biological data
Preferred Qualifications - Experience with LC-MS/MS data analysis (GNPS, MZmine, SIRIUS, or related tools)
- Experience with enzyme expression, purification, or biochemical assays
- Familiarity with R or Python for data analysis
- Interest in interdisciplinary research bridging computation and experimentation
Environment & Mentorship The Mohanty Lab provides a collaborative, supportive environment with strong mentorship, opportunities for independent project development, conference travel, and career development toward academic, industry, or data science careers.
Application Instructions Applicants should submit a
single PDF containing:
- Cover letter describing research interests and fit Curriculum Vitae Brief research summary (1-2 pages)
- Contact information for three referees
Positions have
flexible start dates , beginning as early as
April 2026 BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
BENEFITS Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
Hotlines
Job Tags
Full time, For contractors, Remote work, Flexible hours