Postdoctoral Associate - Zhang Lab - Sorghum

DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER • Olivette, MO

41d

About The Position

The Zhang Lab at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, studies how photosynthetic organisms respond to abiotic stresses (high temperatures/light) by using both green algae and land plants as models, with a particular focus on stress effects on photosynthesis. For more information about the Zhang lab, please visit our webpage: https://www.ruzhanglab.org/. We have an immediate opening for a full-time postdoctoral researcher to work on a DOE funded, collaborative project titled with “Dissecting the Regulatory Mechanisms of C4 Photosynthesis and Carbon Partitioning in Sorghum”. The postdoc will employ field-grown sorghum plants, advanced microscopic imaging, and systems-level approaches to investigate the regulation of C4 photosynthesis and carbon partitioning under different light intensities and developmental stages. The project aims to address key challenges facing the sustainable bioenergy production of sorghum in field conditions, provide unique information and unprecedented insights to improve sorghum productivity and stress tolerance, and develop ‘environmentally smart’ sorghum plants.

Requirements

• Highly motivated, goal-oriented, and productive individual
• Conduct research projects in a timely manner, with the expectation of meeting deadlines
• Have great passion for plant science
• Have strong background in molecular biology and/or genetics
• Be able to organize, multitask their time efficiently
• Work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary and interactive research environment
• Effective communication skills and open-minded for scientific discussion
• Ability to produce high-quality oral and written research products
• Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Live the Danforth Center values: Collaboration, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Integrity & Respect, Environmental Sustainability, and Stewardship
• Ph.D. in Plant, Molecular or Cell Biology or related field
• Submit an on-line application, include the files below
• A 1–2-page cover letter describing academic background, research experience, research interest, and career goals
• CV
• Contact information for three professional references

Nice To Haves

• Candidates who have experience with photosynthesis, plant stress responses, or field research are especially encouraged to apply

Responsibilities

• Take care of sorghum plants in the field from June to July on selected years and harvest leaf samples at defined time points and developmental stages
• Perform photosynthetic measurements in sorghum plants grown in the field and greenhouse conditions
• Isolate different cell types for omics analysis
• Optimize and conduct advanced RNA imaging and 3D volume imaging
• Characterize sorghum mutants
• Summarize research results and write related manuscripts
• Mentor undergraduate and/or high school interns as needed
• Help coordinate the collaboration between different teams
• Other duties as needed for the project

Benefits

• Training in plant physiology (especially photosynthesis), cell-type specific omics analysis, cutting-edge plant microscopy techniques including RNA imaging and 3D volume electron microscopy
• Engage with collaborative labs with expertise in plant physiology, advanced imaging, epigenetics, genomics, and computational biology
• Opportunities for inter-disciplinary training
• Start-of-the-art equipment for plant science
• Excellent scientific environment
• Opportunities for professional development and networking.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees