Post Doctoral Fellow

Post Doctoral Fellow

Location: US Vegetable Lab, CREC, Charleston SC

Open Date: Sep 22, 2025

A postdoctoral research opportunity is available with Clemson University to conduct research on abiotic (salt tolerance) and biotic (fungal and viral diseases) stresses affecting cucurbit crops. The selected applicant will conduct research primarily on biotic factors (e.g., viral and fungal diseases) on cucurbit crops including squash, cucumber and watermelon.

• Phenotype cucurbit (including watermelon and cucumber) germplasm for tolerance to biotic factors (anthracnose, fruit rot) and advance selected genotypes or single plants to develop homozygous lines.
• Identify QTL regions and develop molecular markers to be used in breeding programs.
• Determine genes that are up- or down-regulated (transcriptomics) during host–pathogen interactions.
• Contribute to other projects on diseases of cucurbits, including studies of inheritance of host resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, genetic mapping, marker development, and differential gene expression during disease development on susceptible and resistant cucumber genotypes.
• Work with cucurbit crops primarily including watermelon, cucumber, melon, and various gourds.

Required qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in Horticulture, Genetics, Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, Plant Biology, Molecular Biology, or related field.
• Knowledge and experience in phenotyping plants for resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress.
• Knowledge and experience with Next Generation Sequencing and utilizing data to identify QTL regions and develop molecular markers for use in breeding programs.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, self-motivated, and a willingness to learn new skills and techniques.
• Ability to design experiments, initiate research projects, and participate effectively in team projects.
• Demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience performing bioinformatic analysis (GWAS, QTL-seq, etc.) and/or familiarity with scripting languages (R, Python, Linux, etc.).
• Experience in field research is advantageous but not required.
• Knowledge and experience in molecular biology, plant pathology or breeding is preferred but not required.
• Experience in molecular biology and/or next generation sequencing technologies.
• Basic knowledge of plant genetics and host-resistance is desirable.

Qualified candidates are requested to send a letter of application including a 1-page (maximum) statement of research goals, transcript and a curriculum vitae as electronic PDFs along with email addresses for three references. Apply at the following link: 174435 (Interfolio).

For more information and  the application URL: 174435.

Clemson University is an EEO/AA employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law including disability and protected veteran status.