Post-Doctoral Associate

About the Job

Position Summary

The Khokhani Lab at the University of Minnesota seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join a multidisciplinary project investigating cross-kingdom interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and hyphosphere bacteria in maize. This position will focus on understanding how fungal hyphal exudates recruit and support beneficial bacterial partners and how these bacteria, in turn, influence mycorrhization, plant nutrient acquisition, and symbiosis under variable nutrient conditions. The project will integrate controlled plant–microbe experiments with metabolomics, transcriptomics, and microbiological analyses to uncover the mechanisms underlying beneficial plant–microbe interactions. The ideal candidate will be excited to work in a collaborative research environment and contribute to both fundamental discovery and broader impacts in sustainable agriculture. 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 work closely with research collaborators and supervise undergraduate and graduate students. Opportunities include presentations at national conferences and the preparation of grant proposals.
Postdoctoral associates should be committed for at least 2-3 years and 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

50% of the time will be spent on the following tasks

• Design and conduct experiments using compartmented systems to study interactions among mycorrhizal fungi, helper bacteria, and host plants.
• Collect and analyze hyphal exudates using metabolomics workflows, including LC-MS/MS-based exometabolite profiling.
• Perform transcriptomic sampling and analysis of plant roots, fungal tissues, and bacterial samples during co-inoculation experiments.
• Assist with microbial culture maintenance, plant growth assays, inoculation experiments, and phenotyping of mycorrhization and plant growth responses.
• Analyze omics datasets and contribute to bioinformatic and statistical interpretation of results

30% of the time will be spent on preparing manuscripts, figures, reports, and lab meetings, conference presentations based on research findings, and proposal writing.

20% Mentor students, collaborate with teams, and write reports.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in plant microbiology, molecular biology, soil biology, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• Experience with plant–microbe interactions, microbial symbiosis, or related biological systems.
• Demonstrated experience with molecular biology techniques such as nucleic acid extraction, PCR/qPCR, and/or sequencing-based workflows.
• Familiarity with omics approaches, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, and/or microbiome analysis.
• Strong record of scientific productivity, including peer-reviewed publications or equivalent research output.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and collaborate in a multidisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, rhizosphere/hyphosphere microbiomes, or mycorrhiza helper bacteria.
• Prior experience with metabolomics sample preparation, LC-MS/MS, or exometabolomics data analysis.
• Experience analyzing RNA-seq or other transcriptomic datasets using R, Python, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with plant growth chamber experiments, controlled inoculation systems, or compartmented experimental designs.
• Experience integrating multi-omics datasets to address biological questions in plant–microbe interactions.
• Ability to mentor students and contribute to a positive, inclusive lab culture.
• Experience with maize or other crop systems would be an asset.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range:

$62,232 ; 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.

Competitive salary with full benefits, access to advanced facilities, and opportunities for conferences/grants. Commitment of 2-3 years preferred; renewal based on performance/funding. Submit cover letter, CV, and three references; the application review will continue until a suitable candidate is finalized.

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.

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