Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Location
Richland, WA, USA
Close Date
January 14, 2024 at 5:00 PM PST
Pay Range
USD $52,720-$105,240/Yr

Description
A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for a project focusing on elucidation of the roles of microbiome communities (endophytes) in promoting crop productivity under abiotic stresses. Using systems-biology approaches at both lab and field scales, this project aims to identify the molecular and physiological impacts of the bio-inoculants on the host plant in responding to nutrient and water limitation, and determine if bio-inoculants not only increase plant nutrient stores but also “prime” plants for tolerance and resilience to abiotic stresses. Qualified candidates will have prior experience in studying plant molecular physiology under environmental perturbations, and expertise in molecular biology techniques including multi-omics and high-throughput data analysis. Additional requirements include excellent oral and written communication skills; solid publications record in the scientific field described above, ability to collaborate effectively in teams, and creative/innovative thinking. The work will be performed at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a DOE national scientific user facility, located at PNNL.

The candidate will join a highly collaborative environment and project team with diverse expertise and will have the opportunity to learn and apply cutting-edge multi-omics (in whole tissue and single-cell type levels) and imaging technologies as well as bioinformatics approaches developed in EMSL-PNNL to study important science questions in the area of plant-microbe interactions and rhizosphere processes.

The appointment will be for 2 years starting as soon as possible.

Minimum Qualifications
Candidates must have received a PhD within the past five years (60 months) or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Qualifications
Ph.D. degree in plant biology or plant-microbe interactions or a related discipline.

Experience in the design and execution of studies dealing with plant molecular physiology using phenotyping, omics (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics), and data integration and interpretation. Prior working experience on poplar (or similar woody bioenergy crops), plant-microbe interactions, imaging (microscopy and chemical imaging), and field works (measurement of plant physiological parameters and sample collections) is desired. Direct working experiences with plant microbiome will be ideal but not required. Experience in bioinformatics, computer science, and/or gene functional analysis is also a plus. An emphasis will be placed on candidates with excellent organizational skills who have demonstrated themselves to be highly motivated, independent and creative problem solvers in their research area.

Institution
Michigan State University
Location
East Lansing, MI, USA
Applications Reviews Starting
January 3, 2023
Close Date
Until filled

Description
We seek to recruit a highly motivated and skilled researcher with training in molecular biology, plant genetics, or bioengineering. WALII aims to understand how life continues without water (anhydrobiosis) from the molecular to the organismal levels. The project will leverage recent advances in microscopy, genetics, and physiology to investigate dehydration and desiccation tolerance in Arabidopsis (Theme 2). Successful candidates will investigate how molecules, proteins, and pathways regulate dehydration and rehydration in developing and germinating seeds using an interdisciplinary lens, ranging from biophysics to cell biology and organismal development. The selected candidate will work out of the Rhee Lab at Michigan State University.

About the Water and Life Interface Institute (WALII, pronounced “Wally”): WALII studies how life interacts with water, from the molecular to the organismal level, across plants, fungi, and animals. WALII is a virtual institute, with scientists located at nine research facilities across the United States. Working together, WALII team members aim to uncover the rules by which organisms interact with water, exploring four integrated themes: 1) the physical and molecular determinants that allow organisms to survive in the solid state; 2) rehydration responses in desiccation-tolerant and -sensitive systems; 3) the molecular grammar of desiccation tolerance conferred by intrinsically disordered proteins; and 4) the short- and long-term evolutionary history of desiccation tolerance. WALII team members have diverse expertise, ranging from biophysics to plant biology, and experience with several desiccation-tolerant and -sensitive systems.

Responsibilities

• Leading research independently, preparing publications, and presenting research in scientific meetings. 
• Applying microscopy, genetics, and physiology techniques to investigate dehydration and desiccation tolerance in Arabidopsis. 
• Working closely with collaborators and lab members. 
• Contributing to lab-wide chores, to help foster a productive and positive lab environment. 
• Participating in virtual WALII activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in any of the following areas: molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, bioengineering.
• A track record of research productivity and independence.

Company 
Bayer 
Location
Chesterfield, Missouri (St. Louis area).

Description 
Join a diverse team to innovate product discovery approaches that will help deliver Bayer’s vision of Health for All, Hunger for None. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate and network internally across functions and divisions as well as with external partners, both domestically and internationally. Success in this role means practicing world-class science to drive decisions and innovation, exemplifying inclusion and safety, development as a scientific leader, and embracing Bayer’s LIFE values: Leadership, Integrity, Flexibility, and Efficiency.

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The primary responsibilities of this role, Spatial Transcriptomics Post Doctorate Histology & Microscopy (Crop Science), are: 

• Establishes/adapts and optimizes specimen preparation protocols for evaluating spatial transcriptomics technologies in plant, insect, and other tissues as relevant for Crop Science use cases;
• Designs experimental plans in collaboration with cross-functional, internal and external partners/stakeholders and coordinates implementation to enable project success;
• Understands and anticipates broader project/team interests, and identifies, proposes, and performs complementary analyses to enrich insights from multiple modalities/data layers;
• Demonstrates commitment to inclusion and safety and adherence to safety protocols and best practices;
• Maintains detailed record keeping and required documentation;
• Thrives on meeting challenges, insists on high quality deliverables, demonstrates effective problem-solving skills, and possesses the ability to build productive external and internal relationships;
• Conducts complex activities that require specialized knowledge and the broad application of scientific principles;
• Takes initiative in keeping current with literature in areas of  assignment and in areas of professional interest.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. (defended by 1/30/24) in a biological, biomedical or similar field; 
• Strong experience with histology and confocal light microscopy including specimen preparation (such as fixing/embedding and sectioning). 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three or more years of hands-on experience with histology and at least one specimen characterization technique (confocal microscopy, sequencing, etc.);
• Experience with agricultural specimens (plant, insect and/or fungi tissue);    
• Experience in imaging localization techniques (FISH or similar techniques);
• Background in image processing, quantitative image analysis, data visualization, and bioinformatics tools;   Familiarity with spatial transcriptomics or other innovative or emerging fields of study; 
• Basic understanding of genomic technologies/transcriptomics or next generation sequencing;
• Experience collaborating across multiple platforms/functions, fostering a team-based approach to research, and leveraging external partnerships to evaluate various spatial transcriptomics technology platforms;
• Experience clearly communicating project plans and experimental results with partners and stakeholders and maintaining alignment on objectives and priorities.