Job Details

Post Doctoral Research Associate NSG, Bioinformatics, & Genome Editing

Position Number: 6320617
Location: Lubbock, TX
Position Type: Agriculture - Plant and Soil Science

Post Doctoral Research Associate NSG, Bioinformatics, & Genome Editing
Lubbock
41449BR
Plant and Soil Science

Position Description
Performs specialized Post Doctoral work in the planning, conducting and/or supervision of original research. Responsible for participating in a research project associated with PhD studies and the interpretation of the results of publication. Work is performed under supervision of graduate faculty members with evaluation based on accomplishment of assigned objectives and overall effectiveness of project. May supervise research and student assistants.

Major/Essential Functions
The Janga Lab at Texas Tech University focuses on the genetic improvement of crop plants using genome editing, functional genomics, and bioinformatics. We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate with strong expertise in plant tissue culture, genetic transformation, molecular biology, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in plant biotechnology research and will lead efforts to enhance agronomic traits through genome editing, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and whole genome sequencing (WGS) in both model and recalcitrant crop species, including cotton, peanut, rice, sorghum, soybean, and maize.

Major responsibilities
Independently perform and optimize Agrobacterium-mediated and/or biolistic plant transformation and regeneration protocols in multiple crops, especially cotton, peanut, and rice.
Design and construct transformation vectors and conduct molecular characterization of transgenic and genome-edited plants using PCR, qPCR, Southern blot, and sequencing.
Integrate NGS-based approaches (RNA-seq, WGS, genotyping-by-sequencing) and conduct bioinformatics analyses for transcriptome profiling, variant discovery, and gene expression studies.
Apply GWAS, QTL mapping, and candidate gene validation strategies to identify key loci for trait development.
Develop and implement CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas13 based genome editing platforms for functional genomics and trait improvement.
Work closely with transformation team members and support the optimization of transformation pipelines and troubleshooting.
Lead manuscript preparation, data analysis, project reporting, and contribute to grant proposal development.
Maintain laboratory, greenhouse, and growth chamber equipment as part of routine lab operations.
Helping with teaching and training of students, responsibility will be under 5%.

Required Qualifications
PhD in area of project specialization. Knowledge of modern research practices, the methods, resources, and standards thereof. Ability to organize work effectively, conceptualize and prioritize objectives and exercise independent judgment based on an understanding of organizational policies and activities. Ability to integrate resources, policies, and information for the determination of procedures, solutions and other outcomes. Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with other employees and the public. Ability to plan and allocate the workload of employees, providing direct training and supervision as needed.

Preferred Qualifications
Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology, Genetics, Genomics, Molecular Biology, Plant Biology, or a closely related field.
Experience in vector design and implementation of CRISPR/Cas systems for targeted genome editing in crops.
Demonstrated experience in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation
Proficiency in analyzing NGS datasets (WGS, RNA-seq), applying bioinformatics pipelines to large data sets, and/or GWAS tools.
Strong publication record and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Special Instructions to Applicant
For further inquiries or questions related to posting, please contact:
Dr. Madhusudhana Janga (mjanga@ttu.edu)
Institute for Genomics of Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance (IGCAST),
Department of Plant & Soil Science,
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY, Lubbock, TX, 79409

Minimum Hire Rate

To apply, visit workattexastech.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.