Assistant Professor in Plant or Macroalgae-Associated Microbial Communities and Interactions

Laplace Expert Ltd; Berkeley, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of California, Berkeley, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in plant or macroalgae-associated microbial communities and interactions. The successful candidate will contribute to teaching, mentoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration within Berkeley’s research ecosystem.

The position emphasizes studying host-associated microbiomes under environmental stress to advance crop resilience, sustainable

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent international degree at the time of application.
• Strong research productivity and leadership in plant-microbiome or related areas.
• Experience in teaching and mentoring.
• Ability to lead an independent, collaborative research program linking discovery with applications.

Responsibilities

• Teach in core plant and microbial biology curricula.
• Mentor undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers.
• Develop an independent, collaborative research program that connects fundamental discovery with agricultural and environmental applications.

Skills

Plant-microbiome research

Soil microbial ecology

Macroalgae-associated microbiome

Education

PhD or equivalent

Job description

Assistant Professor in Plant or Macroalgae-Associated Microbial Communities and Interactions

University of California, Berkeley · Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

California, United States

About This Opportunity

UC Berkeley is hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor to study how plant or macroalgal hosts and their microbial communities respond to environmental stress, with relevance to crop resilience, pathogen defense, sustainable agriculture and the macroalgae bioeconomy.

The faculty search centers on host-associated microbial communities in plants or macroalgae and on the biological interactions that shape responses to environmental stress. Research may address plant- or macroalgae-microbiome relationships in viral, bacterial or fungal pathogen defense; soil microbial communities that could reduce dependence on pesticides and fertilizers or lower greenhouse-gas emissions; and microbial associations that influence macroalgal cultivation, health and climate resilience. The successful faculty member is expected to build an independent, collaborative research program that connects fundamental discovery with agricultural and environmental applications. The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology offers greenhouse and field space and links to a broad Berkeley research ecosystem, including the Innovative Genomics Institute, Energy & Biosciences Institute, International Bioeconomy & Macroalgae Center, Plant Gene Expression Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Joint Genome Institute and Joint BioEnergy Institute. The appointment also includes teaching in core plant and microbial biology curricula and mentoring undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers.

Level Researcher

Time Commitment Full-time

Start Date Jul 1, 2027

Duration Tenure-track faculty appointment

Reference Code JPF05522

Field Plant and Macroalgae Microbiome Interactions

Specialization Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Organization Type University

Funding & Compensation

Amount USD 84100-132900 / Per Academic Year

Funding Type Salary

Funding Status Paid

Period Per Academic Year

Education

PhD or equivalent international degree, or enrollment in a PhD or equivalent international degree-granting programme at the time of application.

Experience

Strong research productivity and scholarship in a relevant area such as plant-microbiome interactions, soil microbial ecology or microbial associations with macroalgae are preferred, together with evidence of scientific leadership, independence, collaboration, teaching and research mentoring.

Technical Skills

Plant-microbiome research Soil microbial ecology Macroalgae-associated microbiome research

General Skills

Research leadership Teaching Research mentoring Scientific collaboration Academic service