Postdoctoral Scholar-Fixed Term
About The Position
The Tank Lab in Michigan State University’s Department of Plant Biology is hiring a fixed-term postdoctoral scholar in plant systematics and phylogenomics. The research will build on the lab’s phylogenomic studies of Castilleja (paintbrushes, Orobanchaceae) and investigate hybridization and introgression in plant diversification. Possible research directions include examining variation in introgression among species and geographic regions, investigating how species boundaries persist amid gene flow, and combining genomic, morphological, and ecological evidence to understand evolutionary history. The successful candidate will develop research questions and approaches collaboratively with the lab and will have substantial scope to shape the research and pursue independent projects in other plant groups. Opportunities may also include other Orobanchaceae phylogenomics projects, research connecting herbaria with modern collections-based methods, Michigan and Great Lakes floristics, and infrastructure linking specimens with genomic and other biodiversity data. The postdoctoral scholar will use existing lab collections and datasets and herbarium specimens, with possible targeted fieldwork. Work may include molecular data generation and analysis, spanning DNA/RNA isolation, sequencing library preparation and target enrichment, sequence processing and assembly, and phylogenomic, population genomic, and comparative analyses. The scholar will lead manuscript preparation and communicate findings through publications and presentations, contribute to collaborative lab and herbarium projects, and may mentor students. The position is based full time at MSU in East Lansing, Michigan, and offers opportunities to collaborate with MSU’s Plant Sciences and Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior communities, as well as student mentoring and professional development. The initial appointment is for one year, with anticipated annual renewal dependent on satisfactory performance and continued funding; multiple years of funding are available. The start date is flexible, but the successful candidate must begin before July 1, 2027. The preferred start date is January 2027. The annual salary is approximately $63,000, plus MSU benefits.
Requirements
- A Ph.D. in botany, plant systematics, evolutionary biology, or a related field, completed by the start date.
- A strong grounding in plant systematics and evolution, with demonstrated research experience working with plants.
- Experience analyzing high-throughput sequence data to address phylogenetic or evolutionary questions.
- Scripting experience in R, Python, or a comparable language, and experience working in command-line computing environments.
- Experience in molecular laboratory research.
- Scientific curiosity, strong scientific writing and communication skills, and the ability to develop research independently and work collegially with collaborators.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with sequencing library preparation, target sequence capture, and/or analysis of whole-genome sequencing data for phylogenomics.
- Experience with inference of hybridization or introgression, population genomics, comparative genomics, or phylogenetic comparative methods.
- Experience in plant taxonomy, herbarium collections, floristics, or biodiversity informatics.
- Interest in contributing to the MSU Herbarium and developing connections between herbaria and modern collections-based research.
Responsibilities
- Develop and carry out research using existing lab collections and datasets and herbarium specimens, with potential opportunities for targeted fieldwork.
- Generate and analyze molecular data, potentially including DNA/RNA isolation, sequencing library preparation and target enrichment, sequence processing and assembly, and phylogenomic, population genomic, and comparative analyses.
- Lead manuscript preparation and communicate findings through publications and presentations.
- Contribute to collaborative lab and herbarium projects, with opportunities for student mentoring.
- Contribute to advancing institutional and unit core values concerning ethical and academic standards, culture and climate, and conduct and behavior.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
