美国加州大学河滨分校博士后职位招聘–植物病理学、微生物学或密切相关学科

Description

The University of California, Riverside is recruiting a Postdoctoral Scholar in biology and management of the lettuce Fusarium wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae in California. The Scholar will play a key role in Specialty Crop Block Grant- and commodity-funded efforts to respond to the emergence of Fusarium wilt as a production constraint to lettuce in coastal California. The Scholar will characterize newly-detected variation in host virulence among the pathogen population using both phenotypic and genomic approaches. As part of a collaborative team that includes breeders, plant pathologists at other institutions, and extension personnel, the Scholar will support field trials to evaluate commercial cultivars and resistant germplasm, and efforts to develop assays to diagnose race variants. Professional development opportunities available to the Scholar include grant proposal writing, interaction with industry stakeholders, and travel to national conferences.

Responsibilities                                                         

●      Perform greenhouse experiments to identify pathogenic race and characterize novel race types.

●      Perform population genomic analysis of race variants and the overall population using both short- and long-read sequencing.

●      Develop protocols to increase the throughput of virulence phenotyping.

●      Assist with data collection from cultivar or breeding field trials, and with sample collection to expand the pathogen isolate collection.

●      Analyze data, and prepare conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

●      Assist with mentoring staff and students participating in this project.

Required Qualifications

●      Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Microbiology, or a closely related discipline by start date, with less than three years of postgraduate research experience by start date. 

●      Experience with fungal plant pathogens and with standard molecular wet lab techniques.

●      Demonstrated ability to independently plan and conduct research, and communicate results at professional meetings and in peer-reviewed journals.

●      Excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to actively participate in a mutually-supportive and respectful team environment.

Preferred Qualifications: 

●      Knowledge and experience with Fusarium oxysporum or similar soilborne pathogens.

●      Knowledge and experience in population genetics or bioinformatics, and applied data science using R and SAS.

●      Experience conducting pathogenicity experiments with fungal plant pathogens.

●      Experience with agricultural field work and collaborating with growers and industry clientele.

Appointment

The position is 100% time and available immediately with an expected start date in Winter or Spring 2024. The successful candidate will be initially appointed for two years, with the possibility of additional years contingent on satisfactory performance and availability of funding. The position will be based on the University of California, Riverside main campus, and will include travel to field locations in coastal California. Information on salary ranges, benefits, and other aspects can be found here.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, current curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references to both Dr. Alexander Putman (alexander.putman@ucr.edu) and Dr. Jason Stajich (jason.stajich@ucr.edu). Review of applications will begin February 7 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additional Information

In the Heart of Inland Southern California, UC Riverside is located on nearly 1,200 acres near Box Springs Mountain in Southern California; the park-like campus provides convenient access to the vibrant and growing Inland region. The campus is a living laboratory for the exploration of issues critical to growing communities’ air, water, energy, transportation, politics, the arts, history, and culture. UCR gives every student, faculty and staff member the resources to explore, engage, imagine and excel. UC Riverside is recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse research universities in the country boasting several key rankings of which we are extremely proud. For example, UC Riverside is the top university in the United States for social mobility (U.S. News 2020) and is a member of the University Innovation Alliance, the leading national coalition of public research universities committed to improving student success for low-income, first-generation, and students of color.

Questions

Feel free to contact Dr. Alexander Putman (alexander.putman@ucr.edu) or Dr. Jason Stajich (jason.stajich@ucr.edu) with any questions.