Postdoctoral Scholar Corn Fungal Symbiosis

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 will be based on university need, performance, and / or availability of funding.

Position Specifics

Postdoctoral Position (Enhancing arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in maize)

The Department of Plant Science at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for Postdoctoral Scholars to develop projects integrating a fundamental understanding of cereal arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses with efforts to improve the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of agroecosystems. Focusing on maize, the successful candidate will design and conduct field and greenhouse experiments using mycorrhiza-resistant / modulated varieties to assess the role of mycorrhizal symbiosis under different agronomic scenarios, drawing on the wealth of expertise available at Penn State for the evaluation of plant root systems and their associated microbiota. The candidate will use molecular biological and multiomics techniques to evaluate and characterize variants of interest. The candidate will work with a collaborative team to address questions related to cereal symbioses, including consideration of local-adaptation, traditional and low-input farming systems, and functional shifts during domestication and crop improvement.

Applicants are required to have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in an appropriate field and be able to provide evidence that all requirements have been met for completion of the Ph.D. prior to the effective date of hire. Experience and expertise are sought in one or more of the following areas : mycorrhizal symbiosis; plant nutrition; molecular biology and genetics; analysis of transcriptomic data; microbiome characterization. The ability to communicate effectively, to provide leadership, to contribute to the land-grant mission of the University, and to relate to our population of faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders is essential.

This position will be located at Penn State in University Park, State College, PA. The candidate will be required to drive as part of their duties.

Candidates should provide a curriculum vitae, copies of transcripts, a list of three references, and a cover letter describing their interests and qualifications for the position. Questions can be directed to : Dr. Ruairidh Sawers, Assistant Professor of Plant Response to Abiotic Stress, 204 Tyson Building, University Park, PA 16802; rjs6686@psu.edu.

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.

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