"Post-Doctoral Associate"

About the Job

Post-Doctoral Associate

Percent Time: 100%
Anticipated Initial Appointment Period: 1 year
Supervisors of position: Dr. Ashish Ranjan

Position Summary:

The Ranjan Lab at the University of Minnesota seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to lead cutting-edge research on studying the molecular interactions of fungal diseases affecting potatoes, with a focus on identifying key molecular mechanisms and the metabolites of Verticillium wilt and potato interaction, as well as characterizing microbial biocontrol agents. The successful candidate will employ transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling to compare resistant and susceptible potato varieties during pathogen challenges. Additionally, the candidate will study biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for antimicrobial compounds in biocontrol microbes—knowledge of plant disease resistance mechanisms and sustainable biocontrol strategies.

The incumbent is expected to take a leadership role in data collection, data analysis, and manuscript compiling for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The successful candidate will be expected to work closely with research collaborators and could be involved in supervising undergraduate and graduate students in the lab. The incumbent will have the opportunity to present research findings at local and national conferences and to write and prepare federal/state proposals for submission.
Postdoctoral associates should look for at least 2-3 years of commitment and be enthusiastic about publishing. The position is initially offered for one year, and continued support is contingent upon the candidate’s performance and/or the availability of funding.

We provide

• Competitive salary with full benefits.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and field research stations.
• Collaboration with other UMN researchers, growers, and industry partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• (20%) Generate and analyze comparative transcriptome and metabolome datasets to uncover pathways involved in host resistance and pathogen virulence.
• (20%) Characterizing gene functions in plant pathogen interaction using microbial, microscopic, cell, and molecular biology techniques, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, and qRT-PCR, cloning genes, and western blot.
• (20%) Study and characterize microbial consortia and their biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for antimicrobial compounds and plant growth promotion in biocontrol agents using microbiology, molecular, bioinformatics tools, and biochemical assays.
• (20%) Conduct and manage greenhouse and field assays for evaluating potato resistance to Verticillium wilt and biocontrol efficacy.
• (10%) Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including lab members, collaborators, and stakeholders; mentor junior researchers and contribute to lab management activities.
• (10%) Prepare manuscripts, reports, and presentations for scientific dissemination.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, or related field.
• Strong publication (at least 1-2 research articles in peer-reviewed international journals as the first author) record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Strong background in omics (RNA-Seq, metabolomics), microbial genetics, and molecular biology techniques.
• Must be able to lift objects up to 40 lbs.
• Have a driving license or will be required to have it within three months of joining the lab

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong background in molecular plant-microbe interactions studies and ability to conduct plant-microbe interaction assays under controlled greenhouse and field conditions.
• Familiarity with molecular biology techniques, such as qRT-PCR, cloning, gene silencing (RNAi), and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, western blot
• Experience with microbial genetics, including gene cluster identification, annotation, and functional characterization
• Competence in collaborating in multidisciplinary teams and scientific communication via publications and presentations
• Proficiency with bioinformatics tools and pipelines for omics data analysis, including differential expression, pathway enrichment, and network analysis
• Experience with statistical analysis software (R, Python) and data visualization
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and prepare scientific publications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong teamwork abilities to collaborate across multiple research groups and complete the study.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $62,232 - $67,000, depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Please submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.