"Postdoctoral Associate - EEB - Angrawal Lab"

Position Function

This grant-supported Postdoctoral Associate position involves primary research and related professional activities. The successful candidate will conduct comparative and experimental studies on transcriptomic responses to insect diet and toxins, utilizing the milkweed-insect community as a model for hypothesis testing in molecular evolution. The individual will use methods such as RNA-seq to identify genes and regulatory sequences that drive plant toxin detoxification, transport, and resistance, and potentially assess candidate functions using CRISPR and transgenic approaches.

Anticipated Division of Time

• Research (55%): The Postdoctoral Associate will play a leading role in conducting experimental, computational, and comparative work to understand how changes in gene expression underlie insect diet specialization and sequestration. They will be expected to come to the position having experience in both computational and bench approaches, including bioinformatics and RNA-seq. The individual will work independently, but will also contribute to intellectual interactions within the lab, and potentially with collaborators.
• Writing and Publications (30%): The Postdoctoral Associate will be expected to write and publish research articles in scientific journals and present their work at professional conferences.
• Mentoring (10%): Train graduate and undergraduate students in laboratory protocols and computational methods.
• Personal and professional development (5%): Seek out and attend educational seminars and training workshops relevant to the research, show leadership in lab meetings and activities, maintain all required educational and position qualifications to fulfill job requirements.

This position formally begins as a one-year appointment and is renewable contingent upon funding, available work and successful performance.

Requirements

The applicant must have a PhD or equivalent in the biological sciences and experience in molecular genetic techniques, including high throughput sequencing and data analysis. Strong research background with comparative evolutionary questions, insect herbivores, and natural history is desired.

Supervision Exercised

May supervise undergraduate researchers.

To apply:

Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references via the website. The cover letter should directly address the position requirements as well as the candidate's experience related to the desired research background.

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

CALS hiring rate for this position is $62,232.

Pay Range:

$62,232.00 - $88,745.00