Post Dr Assoc

Zymtronix Catalytic Systems Inc; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 63,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences seeks a Postdoctoral Associate in natural products chemistry and plant biochemistry. You will generate and analyze LC-MS metabolomics data to characterize plant metabolites, working with morning glories, milkweed, fungi, and model species, and extending workflows with automation.

Collaboration with Moghe and Agrawal labs is expected. The candidate should have a PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Plant Biology, or related fields, strong

Qualifications

• PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Plant Biology, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Generate and analyze in-house and public LC-MS metabolomics data to characterize plant metabolites.
• Work across plant systems including morning glories, milkweed, fungi, and model species.
• Operate and develop metabolomics data-processing workflows end-to-end, preferably using programming tools.
• Mentor students and collaborate with lab groups as needed.

Skills

LC-MS operation & data analysis

Metabolomics data processing

MZmine & GNPS workflows

Compound extraction & purification (fl

Molecular biology techniques (cloning,

Enzyme assays & protein biochemistry

Communication skills

Independent & team research

Python scripting

Education

PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Plant Biology, or related field

Tools

MZmine

GNPS

UHPLC-MS/MS

Job description

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University's second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world's complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

The CALS School of Integrative of Plant Science (SIPS) encompasses five fields: Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology and Plant Microbe Biology, and Soil and Crop Sciences. Combined there are 100+ faculty, ~200 undergraduate majors, 200+ graduate students in six fields, and 600+ other employees located in Ithaca, Geneva, and other satellite locations across New York State. The School offers the multidisciplinary undergraduate major in the Plant Sciences and is also home to the Agricultural Sciences major. School faculty also contribute to the Biology, Global Development, and Viticulture & Enology majors.

Position Function

The Postdoctoral Associate will be supervised by Dr. Gaurav Moghe and will also collaborate with Dr. Anurag Agrawal. The labs are affiliated with Cornell's School of Integrative Plant Science and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, which together offer one of the richest chemical ecology and plant biochemistry communities in the country. Together, the two labs provide a unique combination: deep expertise in molecular and computational biochemistry (Moghe Lab; https://www.moghelab.org) paired with field-tested ecological and evolutionary chemistry (Agrawal Lab; https://agrawal.eeb.cornell.edu).

This position requires a recent PhD graduate with expertise in natural products chemistry, analytical chemistry, or plant biochemistry. The Postdoctoral Associate will primarily generate and analyze inhouse and public LC-MS metabolomics data to characterize specialized plant metabolites using workflows such as MZmine for feature detection and annotation, and will perform compound extraction, fractionation, and relevant bioassays. Work will span multiple plant systems relevant to the two labs, including morning glories, milkweed, fungi and other Cornell-associated model and non-model species. The candidate must be proficient in UHPLC-MS/MS operation and downstream data analysis, and comfortable running established metabolomics data‑processing workflows end-to-end, preferably using programming tools. Expertise in molecular biochemistry techniques such as cloning, genetic transformation, protein purification will be highly preferred.

This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY.

Anticipated Division of Time

80%: Experimental and analytical research as described above

10%: Manuscript preparation, presentations

10%: Mentoring and professional development

Requirements

• PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Plant Biology, or a related field.

Required skills:

• Hands‑on expertise in LC‑MS (operation, method development, and data analysis)
• Experience with metabolomics data‑processing workflows (e.g., MZmine, GNPS and comparable platforms)
• Compound extraction and purification via flash chromatography
• Molecular biology techniques (cloning, plant transformation, etc.)
• Enzyme assays and protein biochemistry
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Evidence of performing high‑quality research independently and as part of a team

Preferred skills:

• Ability to write and run Python scripts for data processing and analysis
• Interest in extending existing workflows into more automated or AI‑assisted ("agentic") data pipelines

Supervision Exercised

The Postdoctoral Associate will mentor and provide oversight to students as needed. There are no supervisory responsibilities for this position.

Consistent with Cornell’s practice, appointments to academic positions require candidates to disclose relevant information about their prior employment including whether they have been found to have violated institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial misconduct.

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

CALS hiring range for this title is $63,480 to $65,000 annually.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Life. Changing.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land‑grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

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About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far‑flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.