Location: Michigan State University

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Position Summary

A postdoctoral researcher position is available in our labs at Michigan State University, as part of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) under the prestigious Keegstra Bioenergy Research Fellowship Program. We seek a motivated candidate to join the Kravchenko lab, in collaboration with the Lebeis Lab, to explore the impact of recently generated hybrids of bioenergy sorghum on root-soil interactions, soil microbiome, and soil carbon sequestration.

The candidate will have an opportunity to work at an exciting intersection of the latest advances in plant genetics, soil science, and microbiology, directed towards optimizing environmental performance and sustainability of bioenergy cropping systems. The experimental component of the position will involve greenhouse and field experimentation with novel hybrids, including (i) transgenic bioenergy sorghum, (ii) the use of 13C labeling to assess the quantities of the plant-derived carbon delivered to the soil and its subsequent fate and protection within the soil matrix, and (iii) microbiome composition characterization.

The candidate will be responsible for:

1. Conducting greenhouse experiments and participate in plant and soil sampling and data collection efforts from field experimental sites.
2. Performing measurements and analyses of plant and soil characteristics, and greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Performing nucleic acid extractions, sequencing library preparation, and community analysis.
4. Reporting the results in publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national/international conferences, as well as GLBRC meetings and events.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Plant Science, Soil Science, Microbiology, or related field

Candidates must be within 3 years of PhD graduation and a PhD must be granted by the start date.

Minimum Requirements

• Strong written and oral communication skills to collaborate and communicate effectively with a team of researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds.
• A track record of publications in quality peer-review journals.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of plant-soil-microbial interactions.
• Expertise in stable isotope analyses.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in soil and plant sampling and analyses.
• Experience with greenhouse and agricultural field experiments.
• Quantitative skills in bioinformatics and/or statistical analyses.

Interested candidate must apply through Careers @ MSU website (Job posting #970426)

Apply Here