Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture-Project Management

Proposed Minimum Salary

$4,166.67 monthly

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Job Description Summary

The postdoctoral fellow will focus areas that improve nutritional qualities in crops using plant genetics, genomics, metabolomics, ionomics, biofortification and functional genetics studies. The objective of this research project is to understand the genetic basis of polyphenolic compound production in pecans and pears using metabolomics, transcriptomics, and post-harvest physiology.

Essential Duties/Tasks

• In consultation with the PI, designs and executes experiments.

• Prepares samples for metabolite and micronutrient analysis of tree crops.

• Performs statistical analysis of metabolite and micronutrients.

• Establishes laboratory protocols for metabolite analysis.

• Leads and coauthors the writing of research-based publications.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience:

• PhD degree in any of the following: plant biology, plant physiology, analytical chemistry, genetics, biotechnology, food science, or other closely related fields

Required Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.

• Expertise in targeted and untargeted metabolomic analyses.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Desire and ability to work collaboratively and help maintain a supportive environment for all team members.

• Highly organized and detail oriented.

• Ability to multi-task and establish effective working relationships.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with basic molecular biology techniques such as DNA and RNA isolation, PCR and qPCR, gel electrophoresis.

• Experience with transcriptomic analysis and coexpression gene network analysis.

• Understanding of polyphenol based chemical compounds, pathways, and metabolites.

 

Other Requirements:

Ability to lift or move light, moderate, and heavy objects. Ability to exert light force.

Work beyond normal office hours and/or work on weekends as needed.

Position Funding: This position is funded from a grant and/or contract funding which is renewed under the provisions of the grantor of the contract. This position is limited to 2 years upon hire date. Your position, therefore, is contingent upon continuation of funding of these grants and/or contracts and your satisfactory job performance.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.