Postdoctoral Research Associate

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in the Controlled Environment Plant Physiology and Technology Laboratory (Kubota Lab) at The Ohio State University. This position focuses on research to produce high-quality, flavorful strawberry fruit under controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems.

This project represents a collaborative research effort involving scientists from the Flavor Research and Education Center (FREC), horticulture genetics and genomics teams at The Ohio State University, and USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The research will evaluate multiple strawberry genotypes grown under controlled environments and optimize environmental and cultural conditions to enhance fruit flavor profiles. Research activities will be conducted primarily in growth chambers.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct controlled environment experiments focused on strawberry physiology and fruit quality
• Evaluate strawberry genotypes under varying environmental conditions
• Optimize environmental parameters to enhance flavor development
• Collect and analyze physiological, environmental, and postharvest data
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary research teams across OSU and USDA ARS
• Prepare research reports, manuscripts, and presentations

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Horticulture, Plant Sciences, Crop Sciences, Agronomy, Horticultural Engineering, or a closely related field
• Strong understanding of whole-plant physiology, particularly plant responses to environmental factors
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively within a collaborative, multidisciplinary research team

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with hydroponic crop production and/or soilless substrate culture
• Experience using environmental instrumentation (sensors, dataloggers, control systems)
• Experience conducting leaf gas exchange measurements
• Background in postharvest technology or fruit quality evaluation

Appointment Details

• Appointment through the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University
• Funding is available for up to 10 months, starting May 15, 2026 (or soon thereafter)
• Position is renewable contingent upon funding availability