Postdoctoral Scholar-Fixed Term

Position Summary

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher to contribute to a project aimed at identifying factors associated with foodborne pathogen persistence in pre-harvest food production environments. This is a collaborative project with the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at MSU, and will involve travel for sample collection, processing samples for microbiome characterization, and computational modeling. The Postdoctoral Researcher will be responsible for leading the development of predictive models based on environmental data, microbiome features, and agricultural practices. Additional responsibilities will include supervision of graduate students, preparing manuscripts, giving presentations, and assisting with project reporting requirements. The initial appointment is for 1 year, with the opportunity to renew for a second year.

Professional Misconduct Review

A professional misconduct review is a prerequisite for a candidate to be selected for this position. Applicants will be asked to disclose whether they are subject to any pending investigation, findings or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Professional misconduct includes misconduct related to a person’s employment, including, but not limited to, theft, embezzlement, research integrity, discrimination, or harassment under civil rights laws and policies, including protected identity harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct (sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, etc.), and retaliation. All applicants will be asked to sign an authorization and release, which authorizes the University to contact the candidate’s current and former employers, for a period of 7 years prior to the date of application, related to any pending investigations, findings of responsibility and/or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Nothing will be sent to current or former employers unless the candidate reaches the semi-finalist stage.

The existence of professional misconduct history does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment. The University will assess the history, including any information provided by the candidate, in determining whether it is compatible with the position. The University may decline to hire a candidate based on the professional misconduct review. All records obtained from external employers will be kept in a secure location, separate from personnel files. If an applicant fails to sign the authorization and release, the application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Terminal -Biosystems Engineering, Food Science, or equivalent

Minimum Requirements

Earned Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering, Food Science, or equivalent

Demonstrated expertise in computational modeling

Demonstrated experience coding in multiple programming languages (R, Python, MATLAB)

Experience working with food industry stakeholders

History of publications in the area of food safety and predictive modeling

Desired Qualifications

Experience with field work

Familiarity with microbiome data analysis

Familiarity with machine learning and large language models for data analysis

Experience mentoring junior team members

Required Application Materials

Interested candidates should submit the following materials: a current CV, contact information for three professional references, and a cover letter describing their research experience, technical skills, motivation for applying for this position, and how their prior training prepares them for this role.

Special Instructions

As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission. With this commitment, the University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches.

Review of Applications Begins On

10/07/2026

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.