Research Associate , Plant & Microbial Biology

Overview

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Departmental Overview

The Department of Plant Biology was formed in 1989 under the leadership of Professor Richard Malkin, from a nucleus of faculty members from the departments of Botany, Cell Physiology, Entomology, Genetics and Plant Pathology; these departments were eventually dissolved. In the mid-1990s, under the aegis of Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien, Professor Sydney Govons Kustu founded the Division of Microbial Biology together with Professors Bob Buchanan and Wilhelm Gruissem.

The addition of the Division of Microbiology and faculty from the reorganized College of Natural Resources created the Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, which continues to grow through recruitment.

Position Summary

The Komeili Lab Staff Research Associate participates in a project on the genetics and cell biology of organelles in magnetotactic bacteria. The candidate works closely with the PI to design strategies for evaluating direct and indirect links between magnetosome organelles and other intracellular structures in magnetotactic bacteria.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 02/18/2026.

Conduct and troubleshoot experiments:
The SRA will examine the impacts of various growth conditions on biomineralization and carbon metabolism in AMB-1.

• They will design amendments to growth media and measure cell growth.
• They will create mutants in key pathways related to biomineralization and carbon storage.
• They will design and build plasmids to examine protein localization using fluorescence microscopy.
• They will examine cellular characteristics using electron microscopy.
• Consult with supervisor to determine next steps.
• SRA will have weekly scheduled meetings with PI to discuss latest progress on research project.
• SRA will be expected to review and collate data prior to these meetings and present ideas for next steps.
• The purpose of these meetings is enhancing critical thinking skills of SRA, receiving feedback on progress, and strategizing the next steps of project.
• Participate in assigned laboratory maintenance tasks.
• Each lab member is assigned permanent and rotating tasks.
• Once trained, the SRA will be expected to maintain specific lab equipment such as eater baths, scales, or pH meters.
• They will also be assigned an area of the lab, such as the bench for protein-related experiments, to be routinely cleaned.
• Rotating tasks which each lab member is assigned include washing dishes, autoclaving of materials and waste, and maintaining test tube and pipette supplies.
• Attend and present at weekly group meetings.

Group meetings will have four distinct opportunities for participation by the SRA.

• First, are “roundtable” discussions where each lab member, including the SRA, will present their recent experimental progress…