Dr. Louis Berrios, PhD
Assistant Professor of Ecology (incoming Fall 2027)
Louis Berrios is a microbial ecologist and an incoming Assistant Professor of Ecology at the University of Notre Dame. His lab studies the mechanisms that support interactions among bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and host plants. Techniques such as genomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics are employed to study the eco-evolutionary dynamics of complex community assembly.
Our lab officially opens in Fall 2027, but we're considering applicants at all career stages!
If you're interested in joining the Berrios Lab, please send the following information to lberrios@nd.edu: (1) a brief expression of research interests (1 page max), (2) a CV, and (3) contact information for three professional references. Please include your career stage and anticipated start date in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed until all positions are filled. We anticipate hiring one postdoctoral researcher, two graduate students, and one research technician. We are particularly interested in candidates who have a passion for ectomycorrhizal fungi, forest ecology, bacteria-fungi interactions, and multi-omics data analyses. Those with strong publication records or technical expertise will be prioritized.
Postdoctoral Scientists
Interested applicants must have strong computational, molecular, and writing skills. Those with demonstrated experience using R, command line, and/or Python to analyze complex microbial or plant DNA/RNA sequence data will be given priority. Those who also have a strong publication record and a passion for writing are preferred. We anticipate that this hire will conduct fieldwork at UNDERC. Those interested in submitting a NSF PRFB or Smith Fellowship application should reach out as soon as possible to discuss details.
Graduate Students
We are actively recruiting two graduate students for Fall 2027. Please reach out if you're interested, as the application deadline is in early December. Funding will be available through the department, but students will be expected to secure independent funding (with support from Louis) to support their projects. See the graduate program website for details. Students with a passion for and strong background in microbial or plant ecology are encouraged to apply. Opportunities to conduct research at UNDERC, throughout the Midwest, and in coastal California are available.
Research Technician / Lab Manager
We are looking for a highly organized and motivated person to help build the Berrios Lab's infrastructure. Prior experience maintaining culture libraries, preparing reagents, and growing plants is preferred.
Undergraduate Researchers
We believe that undergraduate researchers are key pillars of successful and efficient labs. Students interested in plant biology, computational biology, genetics, metabolic modeling, and bacteria-fungi interactions will have ample opportunities to strengthen their interdisciplinary skills.
High School Students
Internship opportunities will be posted when available. Please email lberrios@nd.edu with inquiries.
Guiding Inspiration
“We are drowning in knowledge, while starving for wisdom.”