School of Engineering and Sciences

Monterrey, México

Open Postdoctoral Position

The School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnológico de Monterrey invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow within the Research Group Water 360°. The successful candidate will be engaged in: Aquatic Genomics, Toxicology and Chemistry. The candidate will be working in close collaboration with Dr. Frank Loge (University of California Davis Tecnologico de Monterrey), Dr. Bryan Brooks (Baylor University) and Dr. Jürgen Mahlknecht (Tecnologico de Monterrey), on a project related to Emerging Contaminants and Aquatic Health. The position is located at Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey, with field sites located throughout Mexico. Extended stays at Baylor and UC Davis are possible for laboratory analysis and training.

Research Project:

We are seeking a highly motivated and qualified Postdoctoral Researcher to join our interdisciplinary research team investigating the molecular responses of fish to emerging contaminants in riverine ecosystems. The project aims to understand the impact of pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics on gene expression patterns in fish species across development gradients within a river system.

This position is part of a broader initiative to assess the environmental risks associated with chemical pollution in freshwater environments, combining field sampling (e.g., gene expression, RNA-seq), bioinformatics, and environmental data.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Environmental Sciences, Ecotoxicology, Bioinformatics, or a related field.
• Proven experience with transcriptomic techniques (e.g., RNA extraction, library prep, RNA-seq).
• Strong background in bioinformatics and statistical analysis of gene expression data.
• Experience with fish models and/or aquatic fieldwork.
• Proficiency in R, Python, or other relevant computational tools.
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Familiarity with emerging contaminants and their environmental behavior.
• Experience with pathway analysis tools (e.g., GO, KEGG, GSEA).
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks or environmental risk assessment.

Compensation:

• Full-time for one year, with possible extension to two years, depending on performance.
• Starting date July/August 2025
• Competitive salary and benefits.

Application instructions:

Please submit the following documents via application portal:

1. Cover letter outlining your motivation and suitability for the position
2. Detailed CV, list of publications, awards and recognitions, and potential start date.
3. Short statement of previous work, research interests and his/her future vision on the field.
4. Contact information for three academic references
5. Sample publication(s) relevant to the position (PDF).

Contact (lead professor):

Dr. Jürgen Mahlknecht (jurgen@tec.mx)

About Tecnológico de Monterrey (tec.mx)

Tecnológico de Monterrey, the leading private University in México, continues strengthening and renewing the commitment with its research strategy, making research an institutional priority to: significantly contribute to the quality of its teaching-learning process (Educate), transform the scientific and technological knowledge into innovative solutions that benefit society (Innovate) and transform, through knowledge generation and transfer, impacting the community in economic, political and social aspects. Aimed to fulfill these objectives, Tecnológico de Monterrey has designed an action-research model, named Research that Transforms Lives, based on a collaborative, interdisciplinary and open innovation ecosystem, with participation of researchers, teachers, professional and graduate students. Research that Transforms Lives objective is to be and engine that generates innovative solutions for the economic and social development of México. 40 Research Groups with Strategic Focus have been stablished where the scientific activity starts from a specific challenge, which is connected with a discipline and, more precisely, connected with specific topics and approaches. The entire scientific publication effort is done having in mind an application context, either to support the productive sector or to satisfy the communities’ social demands on issues such as health, food, education, housing, transportation, business, public policy, among others.