The Sachs Lab at UC Riverside is recruiting a postdoctoral scholar to join our team.
The primary goals for this postdoc are flexible, but research will focus on the evolution, ecology, and genetics of plant-bacterial symbioses. To learn more about our lab see our website (http://www.sachslab.com/).
We work on wild, model, and crop legume species that interact with the bacterial symbiont lineages Bradyrhizobium and Mesorhizobium. The postdoc can propose research or can choose their primary research foci once they join the lab. Major projects in our lab include i) investigating the evolution and mechanisms of ‘host control’ traits in legumes that constrain exploitation in rhizobial symbiont populations, ii) uncovering competitive interactions among rhizobia in soil communities to explain the genomic and phenotypic drivers of rhizobial strain dominance, and iii) using greenhouse, in vitro experiments, and genotyping to generate novel applications to improve crop growth. Our group is broad and has included students focusing on plant biology, microbiology, genetics and genomics, and evolutionary ecology.
Candidates should have a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, genetics, genomics, population biology, or related disciplines. Most importantly, the ideal candidate is a highly motivated scientists who can work independently and take projects from initiation to publication. Solid bacteriology skills and computational competence are both a plus for this position. A strong background in evolutionary and or molecular genetics would also be very useful. Finally, the ideal candidate would also have experience with next-generation sequencing techniques, which might include RADseq and highly-multiplexed-whole genome sequencing. Irrespective of experience, the postdoc must be able to learn new techniques and quickly and easily troubleshoot protocols. He or she will likely work closely with graduate students and the PI to manage multiple research projects and thus we seek a team player with excellent leadership skills.
The start date is flexible. The position will be available as early as July 2015, but can begin later if necessary. The position is initially for a one-year period, with possible extension of another year, dependent upon satisfactory performance. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Interested individuals should send a CV, contact details of three referees, and a detailed cover letter describing their interest in the position to joel.sachs@ucr.edu. The cover letter should outline what types of research you would like to do in our lab and how your past experience prepares you for this research. Feel free to e-mail Joel Sachs to ask any questions about the position or our lab.
The University of California, Riverside has an active career partner program, and is an Affirmative Action equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.