Essential Job Duties

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to join an ARPA-E-funded project focused on reducing nitrous oxide emissions from corn by integrating ancestral genetics and advanced nitrogen management.

This role centers on developing and deploying analytical approaches for Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) and Biological Denitrification Inhibition (BDI) to rapidly and effectively screen large panels of maize germplasm. The Research Associate will spearhead efforts to mine a newly developed collection of hundreds of Near-Isogenic Lines (NILs) derived from teosinte accessions, aiming to identify the genetic loci responsible for BNI and BDI traits.

Primary Responsibilities

Research (80%)

• Pipeline Development: Coordinate cross-laboratory efforts at NC State University to develop and optimize experimental pipelines for screening large varied panels for nitrogen efficiency traits.
• Sample & Resource Management: Collect data, gather soil and plant samples, perform biological extractions, and manage resource sharing among NC State laboratories and external collaborators.
• Genetic Mapping Collaboration: Collaborate closely with postdoctoral researchers to conduct QTL mapping and fine-mapping of BNI/BDI traits, identifying candidate regions and alleles across varied teosinte taxa.

Project Management (20%)

• Reporting & Compliance: Assist in the preparation of scientific and administrative quarterly reports to ensure compliance with project milestones and ARPA-E deliverables.
• Financial Administration: Manage project procurement and track budgets to ensure the efficient use of research funds.