Postdoctoral Research Associate

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JOB TITLE:                       

Post Doctoral Research Associate - Plant Physiology and Phenotyping

JOB PURPOSE:

The University of Wyoming Science Institute (https://www.uwyo.edu/research/si/index.html)  is seeking to fill one postdoctoral research science position in plant physiology and phenotyping with applications to plant-microbial interactions. The hired candidate will lead the research effort for the Collaborative Research: RII FEC grant to the University of Wyoming “Harnessing Controlled Environment Agriculture to Secure Sustainability and Economic Growth” (https://tricea.unm.edu ). The RII FEC program is an EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused EPSCoR Collaboration building inter-jurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in focus areas consistent with the NSF Strategic Plan. 

Our collaboration, called TRI-CEA, includes the state of Wyoming, New Mexico and South Dakota and involves the participation of different institutions and communities across these states. The project proposes to take a convergence science approach to tackling food security, drawing upon diverse expertise with researchers ranging from basic (plant physiology and plant-microbe interactions) and applied biology (Controlled Environment Agriculture – CEA – and horticulture), environmental and natural resource economics, sustainability science, and applied knowledge of tribal community members. 

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will mainly focus on characterizing how the environment, plants, and microbes interact in hydroponic systems to affect crop yield and nutritional quality and how these drivers impact communities to ultimately enhance climate resilience strategies via CEA.

Candidates should have a doctoral degree in plant science, plant physiology, plant phenomics, or a closely related field. Researchers will be expected to lead research projects and contribute significantly to the development of our interjurisdictional project. TRI-CEA focuses on research in the following areas, with successful candidate having experience and publications relevant to one or more of the areas:

• Plant Physiology
• Controlled Environment Agriculture
• Plant Phenotyping
• Plant-microbial interactions

Successful candidates should have some experience with physiological and image datasets, analysis of large datasets, and characterization of plant-microbial interactions. Core components of duties for this position are conducting experimental work, leading (writing) scientific peer-reviewed publications, creating data sets for community use while coordinating with university collaborators, and mentoring/training graduate and undergraduate students in the group. This position will be part of the first of two 2-year renewals of TRI-CEA.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

The postdoctoral researcher will work with a dynamic cross-state team of researchers and students in determining best practices for secure Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) food production to help community resilience. 

The successful candidate will lead cutting-edge research investigating how environment-plant-microbe interactions might influence plant growth, health, and stress responses. This position provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative research using advanced imaging phenotyping techniques and robust data analysis to uncover the mechanisms underlying plant-microbe symbioses in diverse hydroponic systems versus soil.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and perform experiments to plant growth under changing environmental conditions or in different media
• Apply advanced phenotyping technologies (e.g., image phenotyping and high-throughput handheld instrumentation) to analyze plant-microbial interactions
• Create, share, and archive reproducible and robust code and datasets
• Present results at nationally/internationally recognized conferences
• Share research findings with community members
• Publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals
• Participate in group activities and lead experimental cross-institutional campaigns
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students
• Collaborate with internal and external researchers and contribute to an efficient research environment
• Contribute to writing proposals

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

• A Doctoral Degree in Plant Biology, Plant Science, Plant Physiology, or a related field is required for this position, however, consideration will be given to applicants that are currently pursuing their Doctoral Degree and will complete the degree prior to starting work
• Publication record in the field 
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and contribute to team goals 
• Proven experience in data analysis, statistical modeling, and handling large biological datasets 
• Hands-on experience with advanced imaging techniques, such as high-throughput phenotyping, or other plant imaging technologies
• Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., R, Python) for data analysis and visualization

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Strong expertise in plant physiology and plant-microbial interactions 
• Experience with microbial cultivation and genomic analysis
• Familiarity with bioinformatics tools for analyzing omics data (e.g., transcriptomics, metagenomics) 
• Knowledge of hydroponic system set up and maintenance
• Familiarity with using imaging platforms such as LED-based phenotyping systems or phenomics platforms for large-scale plant screening
• Familiarity with cloud computing and big data infrastructure
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary environment

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS: 

Complete the online application.  The department additionally requests candidates upload the following document(s) for a complete application: 

1. Cover letter 
2. Resume or C.V. 
3. Contact information for four work-related references (references will only be contacted if you are selected as a finalist for the position). 

WORK LOCATION: 

On-campus: This position provides vital support to campus customers, and the successful candidate must be available to work and perform essential job functions on campus, understanding our location is at 7,220 feet above sea level. 

WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS: The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the United States. Sponsorship for H-1B work authorization or work visa is not available for this position. 

HIRING STATEMENT/EEO:   

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please contact us at 307-766-2377 or email [email protected].  

ABOUT LARAMIE: 

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a charming town of 30,000 residents nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its only 4-year university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research, and outreach with state-of-the-art facilities and strong community ties. We invite you to learn  more about Laramie by visiting the About Laramie website. 

Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado’s Front Range and the metropolitan Denver area. Laramie’s beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit http://visitlaramie.org/ 

Posted Salary Range: $65,000