Postdoctoral Associate/Research Scientist - Duguma Lab
About The Position
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate or Research Scientist to join the HeatSmart Cassava project. The project focuses on improving photosynthetic performance and resilience of cassava under heat and combined heat–drought stress through genetic engineering and genome editing. The successful candidate will conduct research integrating plant stress physiology, photosynthesis, molecular biology, genome editing, and gene expression analysis to develop climate-resilient cassava varieties. The position reports to Dr. Getu Duguma and Dr. Nigel Taylor and involves collaboration with national and international research partners.
Requirements
- PhD in Plant Biology, Plant Physiology, Molecular Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Genetics, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated experience in molecular biology and plant physiology research.
- Strong publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Proven ability to independently design, execute, and manage research projects with minimal supervision.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and teamwork skills.
- Commitment to the Danforth Center values: Collaboration, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Integrity & Respect, Environmental Sustainability, and Stewardship.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in plant stress physiology, particularly heat and drought responses.
- Expertise in photosynthesis and physiological measurements.
- Experience with CRISPR/Cas genome editing, plant genetic transformation, and molecular characterization of edited plants.
- Experience in bioinformatics, particularly RNA-seq and differential gene expression analysis; preferred but not required.
Responsibilities
- Design and conduct experiments evaluating physiological and photosynthetic responses to heat and drought stress.
- Apply molecular biology, genetic engineering, and CRISPR-based genome editing approaches to improve cassava stress tolerance.
- Perform molecular and functional characterization of genetically engineered and gene-edited plants.
- Analyze experimental data, prepare manuscripts, and contribute to scientific publications and project reports.
- Independently design, coordinate, and execute research activities with minimal supervision.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary research teams to achieve project milestones.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
