Postdoctoral Associate - Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology

Postdoctoral Associate - Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbiology

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns:
We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Position Function

This position requires an experienced Postdoctoral Associate to lead independent research on fungal pathogens of field crops, with emphasis on corn and soybean. The overall purpose of the position is to generate publishable research that advances pathogen biology, population genomics, and disease management while supporting regional and national surveillance efforts. The Postdoctoral Associate designs and executes laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments addressing pathogen diversity, virulence, fungicide sensitivity, and host resistance.

The position integrates classical plant pathology with genomic and bioinformatic approaches, including population genomics, pangenome analysis, and pathogen genomic surveillance. The Postdoctoral Associate leads development and application of workflows for isolate characterization, genome scale analyses, and interpretation of genotype phenotype relationships relevant to disease risk and management.

The position contributes to field and greenhouse trials evaluating disease development and control strategies across environments. The individual will collaborate with research station staff, extension educators, grower cooperators, and industry partners to implement replicated experiments and surveillance activities. Responsibilities include oversight of pathogen inoculation, disease phenotyping, and data quality across locations and seasons.

The Postdoctoral Associate will lead data analysis, synthesis, and interpretation across microbiological, genomic, and epidemiological datasets. The position prepares manuscripts, technical reports, and grant deliverables and presents findings at scientific and extension conferences. The individual will contribute to grant writing and contract research related to pathogen surveillance, genomics, and disease management.

The position includes scholarly supervision and training of undergraduate students, graduate students, and technical staff involved in laboratory, greenhouse, field, and computational research. The Postdoctoral Associate contributes to laboratory operations through oversight of experimental workflows, coordination of shared resources, and compliance with laboratory safety and biosafety requirements.

This position functions with substantial intellectual independence and scientific responsibility. The Postdoctoral Associate plays a central role in establishing a research program linking field-based disease biology with genomic pathogen surveillance and pangenome scale analysis of fungal pathogens of agricultural crops.

Anticipated Division of Time

• Lab and Computational Research: 40%
• Field and Greenhouse Research: 20%
• Writing, Data Analysis, and Dissemination: 20%
• Training, Supervision, and Program Support: 20%

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

A PhD…