Postdoc in soil microbial ecology at KBS LTER, Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, Michigan
Applications are currently being reviewed. Apply as soon as possible for full consideration. Please note on application or email evanssa6@msu.edu if you will be attending LTER ASM 2018 in Asilomar.
Position: A postdoctoral position is available in the Evans Lab (www.saraheevanslab.weebly.com) at Kellogg Biological Station (Michigan State University) to examine microbial community function in managed systems at the KBS Long Term Ecological Research (LTER). The site has a long history of ecological research, and the postdoc would work on ongoing projects within the theme of resilience to global change in managed systems. These include: eco-evolutionary microbial responses to changes in rainfall patterns, particularly microbial traits that influence N-cycling; the effect of microbial agricultural amendments on plant and soil drought resilience; and changes in rhizosphere microbial function and N-cycling in perennial bioenergy systems. Existing samples and data from the site describing soil function, microbial communities, N cycling, and plant dynamics can be leveraged to increase the impact of this research.
Qualifications: A PhD in an appropriate discipline is required, as is demonstration of strong written and oral communication skills. Skill sets relevant to the position are the following: quantitative PCR, primer design, RNA extraction, stable isotope probing, culture isolation and assessment of plant growth-promotion, greenhouse experimentation, and metagenomic analysis (amplicon or shotgun).
Start date and salary: The postdoctoral appointment is for one year, and renewable annually for at least 2 years, after which is contingent on funding. Start date range is October 2018-January 2019; please describe preferred start date and/or constraints in the cover letter.
To apply: You will need a 1) cover letter (including research accomplishments, future research interests and directions, and relevant field, lab, and data analysis skills), 2) CV, 3) a representative publication (published or in press), and 4) contact information (name, position, phone, email) for three references. Apply online at careers.msu.edu, posting number 536773.