Research Assistant / Research Associate (Fixed Term)

A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Luginbuehl group investigating the regulation of nutrient exchange during the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. This position is funded by the Allan and Gill Gray foundation as well as the ERC Starting Grant "Harnessing mechanisms for plant carbon delivery to symbiotic soil fungi for sustainable food production".

The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is one of the oldest and most widespread symbioses on Earth. This symbiosis provides significant nutritional benefits to plants, however, it is also associated with a substantial carbon cost, as up to 20% of photosynthesis products are allocated to mycorrhizal fungi. This project will explore the molecular mechanisms that allow plants to regulate carbon transfer to mycorrhizal fungi, and will test whether carbon allocation and thus the cost-benefit balance of the symbiosis can be manipulated by genetic engineering of host plants. The successful candidate will use single-cell transcriptomics approaches (including single-nucleus RNA and ATAC-sequencing), carbon tracing, and targeted mutagenesis in the model crop rice to address these questions.

We are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral scientist who is collaborative and excited to work as part of an interdisciplinary and diverse team, has excellent oral and written communication skills, strong organizational and time-management skills, and is eager to develop novel ideas and approaches to investigate research questions in the field of plant-fungal symbioses.

Experience in one or several of the following areas would be an advantage:

Characterization of transgenic rice plants

(Single-cell) transcriptomics approaches Bioinformatics analyses of large datasets Molecular biology techniques Plant physiology techniques

Start date as soon as possible or upon agreement.

The funds for this post are available for 2 years, with a possibility of further extension.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

Please notice that if you have not received any news from us 1 month after the closing date you should consider that on this occasion your application has not been successful.

Please quote reference PD45877 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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