Postdoc in Molecular and Weed Ecology

Penn State University • University Park, IL

18d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking applicants interested in invasion and molecular ecology for a one-year Postdoctoral Scholar position to assist with multiple research projects, including 1) using barcoding to identify hybridized knotweed species from their parental counterparts throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring states; and 2) using metabarcoding to determine the relative abundance of distinct plant species in the belowground biomass of diverse communities. The postdoc will primarily work with Dr. Carolyn Lowry, a weed ecologist at The Pennsylvania State University, along with collaborators on the projects mentioned above. Dr. Lowry is committed to mentoring lab members for the next stages of their careers. The individual selected for this position will also have opportunities to develop tangential research questions of interest, design and implement field or lab experiments to test those questions, analyze existing datasets, synthesize results into scientific publications, and present results to stakeholder audiences. The position will be located in State College, PA, and will include a competitive postdoc salary with benefits.

Requirements

• a PhD with a strong academic record in ecology, plant sciences, or a related field
• experience with metabarcoding/ amplicon sequencing (including lab work, bioinformatics, and data analysis)
• the ability to analyze complex data sets
• strong molecular skillsets and written and oral communication skills

Responsibilities

• Assist with multiple research projects
• Using barcoding to identify hybridized knotweed species from their parental counterparts throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring states
• Using metabarcoding to determine the relative abundance of distinct plant species in the belowground biomass of diverse communities
• Develop tangential research questions of interest
• Design and implement field or lab experiments to test those questions
• Analyze existing datasets
• Synthesize results into scientific publications
• Present results to stakeholder audiences

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees