Postdoctoral Research Associate

Texas A&M • Bushland, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will conduct research in entomology, insect vector biology, plant virology, and vector–pathogen interactions under the supervision of Dr. Kiran Gadhave in the Gadhave Laboratory at Crop Stress Lab (Texas A&M AgriLife Research), Bushland, TX. Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Entomology, Plant Pathology, Plant Virology, Molecular Biology, Biology, Biotechnology, or a closely related discipline.
• Valid Texas driver's license or ability to obtain within 45 days of employment.
• Demonstrated research experience in at least one area relevant to insect vector–plant pathogen interactions, plant virology, insect molecular biology, vector biology, or molecular plant pathology.
• Experience designing and independently conducting laboratory experiments and analyzing biological data.
• Demonstrated proficiency with molecular biology techniques such as nucleic acid extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, RT-qPCR/qPCR, cloning, sequence analysis, and related molecular assays.
• Evidence of scientific productivity through peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong hands-on expertise in molecular biology techniques, which may include nucleic acid extraction, cloning, PCR, RT-qPCR/qPCR, sequence analysis, Agrobacterium-mediated infiltration, library preparation, gene-expression analysis, and protein–protein interaction assays.
• Ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, analyze, and interpret complex experiments.
• Ability to design and conduct plant pathogen acquisition and transmission experiments involving arthropod vectors under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills and familiarity with appropriate statistical analysis and scientific data visualization.
• Ability to maintain detailed, accurate, and reproducible experimental records and organize multiple concurrent research activities.
• Strong scientific writing skills and demonstrated ability to prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate research findings effectively to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Ability and willingness to mentor junior researchers and contribute positively to laboratory operations.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to prioritize experiments, meet deadlines, and manage multiple research activities simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of arthropod vector–plant pathogen interactions and pathogen transmission biology.
• Knowledge of thrips biology and thrips-transmitted viruses, particularly tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) or related orthotospoviruses.
• Knowledge of aphid biology and aphid-transmitted plant pathogens.
• Knowledge of wheat curl mites or other mite vectors and mite-transmitted plant pathogens.
• Knowledge of molecular determinants of insect vector competence.
• Knowledge of plant virus biology, infectious clones, viral genetics, virus–host interactions, or plant antiviral responses.
• Skill in RNA interference, virus-induced gene silencing, transient gene expression, or other functional genomic approaches.
• Skill in protein–protein interaction approaches such as yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down assays, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, or related methods.
• Skill in transcriptomic, genomic, proteomic, small-RNA, or other omics-based approaches.
• Skill in bioinformatic analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, or other high-dimensional datasets.
• Skill in molecular diagnostic assay development, validation, and optimization.
• Skill in conducting insect behavioral, fitness, development, survival, acquisition, inoculation, or transmission assays.
• Knowledge of tomato, pepper, or other solanaceous crop systems, including host resistance or plant genetics.
• Ability to design and conduct greenhouse and field experiments involving insect vectors and plant pathogens.

Responsibilities

• Independently lead research projects focused on plant virus–insect vector interactions across molecular, organismal, and ecological scales.
• Investigate molecular mechanisms governing pathogen acquisition, establishment, dissemination, and transmission by arthropod vectors, including interactions among vector proteins, plant pathogens, and host plants.
• Conduct functional studies of candidate vector and pathogen genes using approaches such as RNA interference, virus-induced gene silencing, transient expression, protein–protein interaction assays, and other molecular or functional genomic approaches.
• Design and conduct insect acquisition and transmission experiments using plant pathogens and their arthropod vectors under controlled laboratory, growth-chamber, greenhouse, and field conditions.
• Apply molecular diagnostic approaches, including conventional PCR, RT-PCR, RT-qPCR/qPCR, and emerging nucleic-acid-based diagnostic platforms, to detect and quantify plant pathogens in insect vectors and host plants.
• Contribute to genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, small-RNA, or other omics-based studies aimed at identifying molecular determinants of vector competence, pathogen transmission, and host–vector–pathogen interactions.
• Conduct insect behavioral, developmental, survival, fitness, and transmission assays and integrate these measurements with molecular and pathogen-detection data.
• Participate in research on agriculturally important vector–pathogen systems, including thrips-transmitted viruses, aphid-transmitted pathogens, mite-transmitted pathogens, and other emerging insect vector–plant pathogen systems.
• Analyze experimental and high-dimensional biological data using appropriate statistical and bioinformatic approaches and maintain accurate and reproducible research records.
• Develop experimental protocols, troubleshoot assays, interpret results, and identify new research directions arising from ongoing projects.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to research proposals, technical reports, conference presentations, and other scientific communications.
• Present research findings at scientific meetings, seminars, stakeholder meetings, and other professional venues.
• Coordinate day-to-day management of assigned research projects, including experimental planning, maintenance of research organisms and biological materials, ordering supplies, managing inventories, and coordinating use and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Assist with maintenance of insect colonies, plant materials, pathogen cultures or isolates, and other biological resources necessary for the research program.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to graduate students, undergraduate students, research assistants, and visiting researchers.
• Collaborate effectively with laboratory members and multidisciplinary collaborators in entomology, plant pathology, molecular biology, genomics, breeding, epidemiology, and related disciplines.
• Ensure compliance with institutional requirements related to laboratory safety, greenhouse and field research, biological materials, biosafety, data management, and project reporting.
• Be responsible for driving an agency vehicle or rental vehicle to research sites and meetings/conferences.
• Perform other research-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance (AgriLife contributes to premiums)
• 12–15 annual paid holidays
• Up to 8 hours/month sick leave and at least 8 hours/month vacation
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative
• Access to ongoing professional development and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internally developed programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree