Current Openings

Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Associate
(Bioinformatics and/or Plant Molecular Biology)

The School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences seeks a highly motivated candidate for a USDA‑NIFA funded project focused on improving the sustainability of rice production. The successful candidate will help elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying salinity, drought, and heat tolerance in rice and will support the development of high‑yielding breeding lines with enhanced resilience to these abiotic stresses.

Primary responsibilities include applying bioinformatics and/or molecular biology approaches to identify, prioritize, and characterize candidate genes associated with stress‑tolerance traits.

Qualification Requirements

• Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, or a related field
• Strong publication record
• Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with other lab members
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience in bioinformatics and molecular biology
• Experience analyzing and interpreting next‑generation sequencing (NGS) data

Candidates with an M.S. degree in the disciplines listed above may be considered if they have a strong publication record, excellent organizational skills, and demonstrated expertise in designing experiments for gene discovery and validation of candidate genes.

Availability

The position is available immediately and will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

• A cover letter describing how their expertise and qualifications align with the project
• A current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Copies of university transcripts
• Three current letters of recommendation (sent directly by the recommenders)