Detection and identification of the constituents within complex microbial populations are a key area of need for biodefense, clinics, environmental, and microbiome analyses. Metagenomic sequencing holds the promise of enabling culture-free, non-targeted identification and characterization of a mixed population of bacteria, viruses, archaea, etc. This is especially critical for identifying new (potential) pathogens such as the outbreak of a novel E. coli strain O104:H4. However, this can be difficult using the existing platforms and software because of the constraints on sequencing (read length, depth), and informatics (e.g., database composition, algorithm biases).

Proposals should address these challenges with strategies to evaluate the metagenomic identification process and enable end users to select the appropriate tools for their applications. Combining existing and new technologies is encouraged. The proposal may include a combination of benchwork and computational analyses to address the needs in this area. In all cases, the applicant must clearly outline the facilities and resources needed for their work.

 

key words

Metagenomics; Pathogen detection; Sequencing, Bioinformatics; Microbial mixtures;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants