The Hatzenpichler Environmental Microbiology Lab at Montana State University (Bozeman, MT) is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join a collaborative project on the diversity, genomics, physiology, and ultrastructure of Asgard archaea and its implications for eukaryogenesis. This research project is part of an international collaboration between the Hatzenpichler lab and the groups of Brett Baker, Mark Ellisman, and Thijs Ettema. Together, we seek to obtain a comprehensive genetic catalog of Asgard archaea diversity, determine their physiology, and characterize their cellular ultrastructure. To achieve this, we will employ an array of “omics”, physiology, and microscopic approaches. Determining the identity of archaea most closely related to eukaryotes, their physiological interactions, and cellular structure will transform our understanding of eukaryogenesis. The postdoc will use a combination of cutting-edge next-generation physiology approaches targeted at Asgard archaea physiology and cell-cell (metabolic and physical) interactions. Approaches to be employed include stable isotope probing, substrate analog probing, fluorescence activated cell sorting, Raman micro-spectroscopy, different in situ visualization techniques, as well as genome analyses and targeted cultivation. The postdoc’s main objective will be to experimentally test genomic predictions on Asgard archaea physiology and cellular interactions, and (ideal case scenario) obtain an enrichment culture of an Asgard archaeon. The position will be available starting September 1st 2020 and will remain open until filled.