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Open Postdoc Position in Turfgrass Pathogen Population Genetics and Microbiome

We are excited to announce a postdoc position opening in our lab! 

Posting Summary: A post-doctoral position in the Department of Plant Biology at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA – working in turfgrass pathology – is available immediately for a turfgrass industry grant funded project led by Dr. Ming-Yi Chou.

Overview: A postdoctoral associate position is available immediately to work on multiple research foci including but not limited to 1) Developing molecular assay to study turf pathogen population genetics related to fungicide resistance, 2) Digital PCR analysis for the turfgrass foliar pathogen in samples collected from field trials and commercial operations, and 3) Fungicide efficacy field trials. The results obtained are expected to identify and understand novel strategies to control disease in turfgrass. Applicants should have a recent PhD in molecular genetics and/or biochemistry, preferably with experience in plant pathology. The ability to carry out experimental work independently is essential as is the ability to interact with multiple PIs since the project involves an integrative team with multiple expertise.

Minimum Education and Experience: The successful applicant should have a recent PhD degree in a Plant Pathology-related discipline, such as plant biology, mycology, horticulture, microbiology, and skills and experience in microbiome and genetic analysis. A copy of PhD certification will be required before the official offer can be given.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Applicants should be fluent in English (both oral and written) and able to communicate ideas and results to colleagues. Successful applicants must be capable of working in a team and completing projects without constant supervision. In addition to classical, culture-dependent techniques, the position requires experience and expertise in genetics and microbiome techniques, including but not limited to long- and short-read metabarcoding, bioinformatics, qPCR or dPCR, primer and probe design, and gene cloning, as well as the ability to work outdoors to apply treatments to field plots and collect samples for laboratory analysis. Furthermore, successful candidates will be able to write scripts in R or Python to enable replicable computational analysis of large datasets. Applicants must also comply with the high standards of work ethics, regulations, and rules required by the school and department.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Interested applicants must apply online through the ROCS system at https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/244602 and submit 1) a cover letter stating your qualification and interests for this position, 2) Curriculum Vitae, 3) PhD degree certification, and 4) contact information of three references. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. We aim to fill the position as soon as possible with an immediate start date.