Postdoctoral Scholar

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the term length discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Burghardt Lab in the Plant Science Department at The Pennsylvania State University is seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar to work on genome editing and validation of bacterial genes underlying beneficial plant-microbe interactions in agroecosystems (https://lianaburghardtlab.com/). The postdoc will contribute to grant-funded research focused on the genetic rewiring of rhizobia legume interactions to influence competitive fitness inside and outside of the host and for optimal nitrogen fixation. This includes identifying genetic candidates from existing lab experiments, generating modified strains in the lab, and testing and analyzing their downstream effects on plant and rhizobial traits, and communicating these results in publications and talks. In addition, the postdoc will be encouraged to develop and pursue novel research interests and directions that are consistent with the lab’s theme of understanding legume-rhizobia interactions in natural and managed landscapes. The postdoc will receive mentorship and professional development opportunities tailored to their career goals, and support in developing independent research directions. 

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in Microbiology, Biology, or related field(s). This position requires excellent communication skills and experience in modifying and manipulating bacterial genomes, and in assessing downstream performance effects on both plants and microbes. Preferred candidates will also have some of these strengths: 

• ability to conduct lab or greenhouse experiments with plants (Medicago) and rhizobia (ideally Sinorhizobium,Rhizobium, or Bradyrhizobium); 
• experience using genome engineering techniques, including Golden Gate cloning and deletion/addition of, to alter rhizobial genomes (ideally Sinorhizobiummelilito); 
• Experience performing statistical analysis, including generalized linear models & multivariate statistics; 
• experience with functional genomics, bacterial genomes, and bacterial tagging methods; 
• evidence of prior success in working in diverse teams and independently; 
• a demonstrated interest in mentoring students; 
• and a track record of first-authored, peer-reviewed publications and successful collaborations. 

Initially, this term appointment is funded for one year from the date of hire with the option of reappointment for additional years, conditional on satisfactory performance and the availability of funds (the position is supported by multi-year grants). Before the effective date of hire, applicants must be able to provide evidence that all requirements have been met for completion of the Ph.D. and pass standard background checks. This position includes a competitive salary based on the NIH postdoc scale and generous benefits.

Interested applicants should apply through Penn State’s Job Posting Board. When prompted for a CV, please upload a single pdf titled: “lastname_Postdoc_BurghardtLab.pdf” that includes (i) a cover letter detailing scientific interests, qualifications, future goals, and preferred start date, (ii) a CV that includes contact information for three references. Reach out to Liana with additional questions ([email protected]).

Application review will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

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Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

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