Job ID: 376462
About the Job
The Schlatter and Khokhani labs at the University of Minnesota seek a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to lead research on microbial legacies of alfalfa cropping on subsequent corn-associated microbiomes and plant health. The successful candidate will leverage existing multi-year amplicon datasets from the University of Minnesota Long-Term Agricultural Research Network to determine how the soil, rhizosphere, and root microbiota of corn is influenced by alternative rotation crops (soy, wheat, alfalfa). They will build on these data with deep metagenomic sequencing to identify functional pathways, reconstruct microbial genomes of taxa associated with crop rotations, and compare community scale metabolic models. Additionally, guided by DNA sequencing data the candidate will cultivate rhizosphere and root-associated microbes, design novel or modified synthetic communities, and evaluate their impact on plant nutrient uptake and suppression of key corn pathogens (Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Pythium spp). The incumbent is expected to take a leadership role in data collection, data analysis, and manuscript preparation for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with research collaborators, supervise undergraduate and graduate students, and attend national conferences.
Postdoctoral associates should look for at least 2-3 years of commitment and be enthusiastic about publishing. The position is initially offered for a year, and continued support is contingent upon the candidate's performance and/or funding.
Note: These are not positions to which permanent residency can be granted for international appointees.
Job Duties:
About the Job
The Schlatter and Khokhani labs at the University of Minnesota seek a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to lead research on microbial legacies of alfalfa cropping on subsequent corn-associated microbiomes and plant health. The successful candidate will leverage existing multi-year amplicon datasets from the University of Minnesota Long-Term Agricultural Research Network to determine how the soil, rhizosphere, and root microbiota of corn is influenced by alternative rotation crops (soy, wheat, alfalfa). They will build on these data with deep metagenomic sequencing to identify functional pathways, reconstruct microbial genomes of taxa associated with crop rotations, and compare community scale metabolic models. Additionally, guided by DNA sequencing data the candidate will cultivate rhizosphere and root-associated microbes, design novel or modified synthetic communities, and evaluate their impact on plant nutrient uptake and suppression of key corn pathogens (Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Pythium spp). The incumbent is expected to take a leadership role in data collection, data analysis, and manuscript preparation for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with research collaborators, supervise undergraduate and graduate students, and attend national conferences.
Postdoctoral associates should look for at least 2-3 years of commitment and be enthusiastic about publishing. The position is initially offered for a year, and continued support is contingent upon the candidate's performance and/or funding.
Note: These are not positions to which permanent residency can be granted for international appointees.
Job Duties:
- 40% Employ cutting edge DNA sequencing and bioinformatic tools to analyze amplicon and shotgun metagenomic datasets and identify microbial taxa, functional pathways, and community signatures associated with different rotation cropping histories.