Multiple Openings: Systems and Synthetic Biology: The Moon Lab at Washington University in St. Louis, led by Prof. Tae Seok Moon, is seeking 12 new researchers to join its pioneering efforts in systems and synthetic biology. Our research focuses on engineering programmable cells with applications in health, environment, energy, and space exploration. Multiple funded projects are available through NIH, NSF, USDA, EPA, DARPA, DoE, and ONR.
We welcome highly motivated scientists eager to innovate in microbiome engineering, biocontainment, microbial therapeutics, metabolic engineering, and more.
The Moon Lab: Systems and Synthetic Biology – Constructing Programmable Cells
Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Designation | Multiple Openings – Research Associates, PhD Students, and Postdoctoral Researchers |
| Research Areas | Synthetic Biology, Systems Biology, Microbiome Engineering, Metabolic Engineering, Biocontainment, Environmental Biotechnology, Biomanufacturing |
| Location | The Moon Lab, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Total Open Positions | 12 |
| Principal Investigator | Prof. Tae Seok Moon (LinkedIn) |
| Application Contact | tsmoon@wustl.edu |
| Last Date to Apply | Open until positions are filled |
Designation
- Research Associates
- Doctoral (PhD) Candidates
- Postdoctoral Researchers
Research Areas / Current Projects
- Medical Applications – Engineering microbiota and small regulatory RNAs (NIH, ONR, AFRL).
- Metabolic Engineering – Microbial heat production and therapeutic probiotics.
- Biocontainment – Developing kill-switches for GEMs (USDA, EPA, NSF).
- Synthetic Regulatory RNAs – Unification and design for advanced control (NSF).
- Sustainable Biomanufacturing – Upcycling plastics, lignocellulose processing, fuels & chemicals production (DoE, AIChE).
- AI-Assisted DNA Synthesis – PETase design and large DNA assembly.
- Mathematics + Biology Integration – Computational frameworks for synthetic biology.
- Space Exploration Applications – Biomineralization, microbes for extreme environments (DARPA).
Eligibility / Qualification
- Master’s or PhD in Biological Sciences, Systems Biology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, or related disciplines.
- Strong background in molecular biology, microbiology, synthetic biology, or metabolic engineering.
- Experience with genetic engineering, CRISPR/Cas systems, or computational biology is desirable.
- High motivation, creativity, and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
Job Description
- Conduct independent and collaborative research aligned with ongoing funded projects.
- Engineer microbes for applications in health, environment, and bioenergy.
- Develop innovative tools such as kill-switches, biosensors, synthetic RNAs, and programmable circuits.
- Collaborate with national and international partners (NIH, DARPA, DOE, EPA, USDA, NSF, ONR, AFRL).
- Publish high-impact research in reputed journals and present findings at conferences.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send:
- A cover letter outlining research interests and motivation.
- An updated CV including publications (if any).
- Contact details of 2–3 academic references.
📧 Applications should be emailed to Prof. Tae Seok Moon at tsmoon@wustl.edu.
🔗 More information: Moon Lab Website
Last Date for Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Early applications are encouraged.
