Postdoctoral Scholar

Postdoctoral Scholar### Postdoctoral Scholar Apply:
Penn State University Park:
Full time:
Posted 10 Days Ago:
REQ #
** 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 discussed will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
** POSITION SPECIFICS
** The Burghardt Lab in the Plant Science Department at The Pennsylvania State University is seeking a
** Postdoctoral Scholar
** to work on genome editing and validation of bacterial genes underlying beneficial plant-microbe interactions in agroecosystems (). The postdoc will contribute to grant-funded research focused on the genetic rewiring of rhizobia legume interactions to influence competitive fitness inside and outside of the host and for optimal nitrogen fixation. This includes identifying genetic candidates from existing lab experiments, generating modified strains in the lab, and testing and analyzing their downstream effects on plant and rhizobial traits, and communicating these results in publications and talks.

In addition, the postdoc will be encouraged to develop and pursue novel research interests and directions that are consistent with the lab’s theme of understanding legume-rhizobia interactions in natural and managed landscapes. The postdoc will receive mentorship and professional development opportunities tailored to their career goals, and support in developing independent research directions.  Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate in Microbiology, Biology, or related field(s).

This position requires excellent communication skills and experience in modifying and manipulating bacterial genomes, and in assessing downstream performance effects on both plants and microbes. Preferred candidates will also have some of these strengths:
* ability to conduct lab or greenhouse experiments with plants (
* Medicago*) and rhizobia (ideally
* Sinorhizobium*,
* Rhizobium*, or
* Bradyrhizobium*);
* experience using genome engineering techniques, including Golden Gate cloning and deletion/addition of, to alter rhizobial genomes (ideally
* Sinorhizobium
* * melilito*);
* Experience performing statistical analysis, including generalized linear models & multivariate statistics;
* experience with functional genomics, bacterial genomes, and bacterial tagging methods;
* evidence of prior success in working in diverse teams and independently;
* a demonstrated interest in mentoring students;
* and a track record of first-authored, peer-reviewed publications and successful collaborations. Initially, this term appointment is funded for one year from the date of hire with the option of reappointment for additional years, conditional on satisfactory performance and the availability of funds (the position is supported by multi-year grants). Before the effective date of hire, applicants must be able to provide evidence that all requirements have been met…