Job Description
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to study plant-mycorrhizal-bacterial interactions in soil. You will dissect microbial food web interactions in the soil surrounding arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) using isotope tracing in combination with transcriptomics and metabolomics. This research will determine the “crosstalk” between AMF and the soil microbial community during the decomposition of soil organic matter. This opportunity is funded by a DOE Early Career Award (PI Erin Nuccio) that studies mycorrhizal-microbial interactions in soil and is within the Environmental Isotope Systems group in the Nuclear and Chemicals Sciences (NACS) Division. Starting Salary: > $97K USD plus benefits.
Apply Here: https://us.smrtr.io/hdXX
Check out a video featuring our recent research. You would be involved with the next phase of this work: https://youtu.be/6s-5G-_SZpQ
In this role you will
- Study a widespread symbiosis that is critical for plant nutrition and terrestrial soil nutrient cycling.
- Conduct a combined metatranscriptomics and isotope tracer experiment to study the arbuscular mycorrhizal food web and tri-partite plant-AMF-soil microbiome interactions.
- Use 13C and 15N isotope tracing, stable isotope probing, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, and novel plant-mycorrhizal microcosms to answer unresolved questions in the field of AMF-microbial interactions.
- Contribute to the conception, design, and execution of research.
- Manage technicians and interns who will assist you with your research.
- Collaborate with other scientists and technical personnel.
- Publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals.
- Present results at external conferences, seminars, and/or technical meetings.
Qualifications
- PhD in Microbial Ecology, Plant Biology, Microbiology, or related field and demonstrated experience.
- Experience conducting plant or soil microbial ecology studies in laboratory, field, or greenhouse settings.
- Experience with wet-lab molecular techniques (e.g., DNA or RNA extraction, PCR)
- Experience with cultivation techniques for plant, fungal, or bacterial interactions studies.
- Experience with bioinformatics and microbial community statistical analysis.
- Demonstrated ability as an independent and innovative experimentalist.
- Publication record in the peer-reviewed literature reflecting intellectual leadership and scientific creativity
- Demonstrated experience in written and verbal communication skills necessary to deliver presentations and prepare written publications, and reports.
Qualifications We Desire
- Experience working with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is highly desired.
- Experience analyzing ‘omics datasets (metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, or metabolomics).
- Experience with stable isotope techniques.
Apply Here: https://us.smrtr.io/hdXX