Post Doctoral Scholar

The Ohio State University; Wooster (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ohio State University in Wooster, OH, invites applications for a fixed-term research position focusing on soil and plant health. The successful candidate will lead experimental design, field and lab work, and data analysis, including bioinformatics pipelines in plant microbiomes.

Responsibilities include manuscript preparation, presenting findings, mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, and contributing to extension activities within the College of Food, Agriculture, and

Qualifications

• PhD with a major in Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Soil Sciences, Ecology, Statistics, Agronomy/Horticulture, or related field.
• Experience handling microbial cultures and molecular techniques (DNA/RNA extraction, PCR) and nucleic acid sequence data analysis, including phylogenetics.
• Soil and plant health assessments.
• Experimental design and statistics.
• Bioinformatics applications to plant microbiome analysis; familiarity with R language.
• Manuscript preparation and publication.

Responsibilities

• Collects, organizes, analyzes, interprets and communicates data (bioinformatic and statistical analyses of soil and plant microbiome datasets).
• Designs and conducts field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments, including characterization of plant and soil health parameters and analysis of soil food web components.
• Advises and interacts with graduate and undergraduate students in research activities.
• Maintains thorough records of research and contributes to training of laboratory personnel and outreach activities.

Skills

Microbial cultures handling

Molecular biology (DNA/RNA extraction,

Soil and plant health assessment

Experimental design and statistics

Bioinformatics (plant microbiome; R)

Manuscript preparation and publication

Student mentorship

Education

PhD in Plant Pathology/Microbiology/Soil Sciences/Ecology/Statistics/Agronomy/Horticulture or related field

Tools

R language

Bioinformatics pipelines

Job description

Conducts independent research focused on different aspects of soil and plant health, including measurements of soil physicochemical characteristics, microbial diversity and activity, other soil food web components, and plant disease assessments. Specifically, the candidate leads research including experimental design, planning, setup and sampling, data generation and analysis. Experiments could include handling and processing of samples for soil, plant and microbial analyses (including nematodes), maintenance and identification of cultures/isolated populations, and environmental nucleic acid analysis.

The candidate also prepares manuscripts and presentations deriving from interdisciplinary projects on soil health in Ohio cropping systems. The candidate will maintain thorough records of research, including annotated electronic resources and application of statistical analysis and bioinformatic pipelines. The candidate will be expected to contribute to other group activities, such as, but not limited to, training of laboratory personnel, general lab activities and discussions, and extension/outreach.

50% - Collects, organizes, analyzes, interprets and communicates data (written and oral), including bioinformatic and statistical analysis of soil and plant health and microbiome datasets.

40% - Designs and conducts field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments, including characterization of plant and soil health parameters and analysis of soil food web components

10% - Advises and interact with graduate and undergraduate students in research activities.

Additional Information:

Degree Requirements :

PhD with a major in Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Soil Sciences, Ecology, Statistics, Agronomy/Horticulture, or related field.

Required Experience :

• Handling microbial cultures and molecular expertise (such as DNA/RNA extraction and PCR) and nucleic acid sequence data analysis, including phylogenetics
• Soil and plant health assessments
• Experimental design and statistics
• Bioinformatics as it applies to plant microbiome analysis and familiarity with R language
• Manuscript preparation and publication

Location:

Selby Hall (0410)

Position Type:

Term (Fixed Term)

Scheduled Hours:

40

Shift:

First Shift

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.

The Ohio State University

A unit within the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences providing a hands-on approach to learning.

The Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University advances knowledge about animals and their products, emphasizing their societal and environmental significance for students and stakeholders.

Higher Education Education