JOB SUMMARY

Fort Valley State University's College of Agricultural Science, Family Science and Technology is seeking candidates for the Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the Department of Agricultural Research Station. This position requires a Ph.D. degree in the field of Agriculture, Plant Sciences, or related area of study with relevant experience in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), designing row crop experiments and aflatoxin related studies. The candidate will coordinate a team working on aflatoxin resistance screening in peanut involving genomics and phenomics approach. The prime focus is to screen germplasms relevant to Georgia locations to support aflatoxin related research in collaboration with USDA scientists using next-generation sequencing data to associate important agronomic traits that enhances aflatoxin resistance in peanut. The candidate will manage a large team, coordinate teleconferences and annual meetings, and guide protocol development and execution. Design, prioritize and execute lab/field experiments; with guidance, prioritize and organize daily workflow; document, compile and analyze experimental data in accordance with Foundation data management protocols; report data in oral and written reports; stay abreast of current scientific literature in relevant research areas. The candidate will develop independent projects to further peanut crop genetic improvement, assist with grant writing, and develop manuscripts from past and future datasets. Communicate research discoveries through presentations within the Foundation and at regional, national and/or international scientific meetings and through publications in scientific, peer reviewed journals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform independent research under the direct supervision of the PI/PD and other duties assigned by the advisor in the field or the laboratory.
• Work with supervisor for planning and executing research activities as part of a team to perform daily required maintenance of research activities, maintaining tidiness of work areas, taking observation, and data recording, maintaining research notebooks, analyzing data using statistics, writing conclusion of research observation, presenting result in professional meetings and writhing journal articles for publication.
• Participate in College (GA National Fair, AG Field Day and AG Expo, Seminars) and other university functions / activities.
• Supervise and work collaboratively with graduate and undergraduate student workers.
• Work to create a safe work environment.
• Must be able to work outside in the summer where temperatures reach in to the upper 90s F, wear PPE, and drive a vehicle to research plots in Fort Valley, Dawson, Tifton and to nearby cities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

• Ph.D. degree in (Plant Science, Entomology, Botany, Biology, Plant breeding).
• Three years of experience working in the field and greenhouse growing crops, greenhouse, or working experience for any research in the field or laboratory.
• Two years of experience in plant genetic mapping, QTL mapping, designing row crop experiments and insect related studies.
• Acquaintance with software's and bioinformatic skills used in GWAS and QTL mapping

Preferred

• Five years of experience working in the field and greenhouse growing crops, greenhouse, or working experience for any research in the field or laboratory.
• Three years of experience in designing row crop experiments and disease related studies in peanut crop.
• Skills using R/Rqtl or other bioinformatic skills used in plant genomics studies

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Ability to work outdoors, greenhouse and in the labs as required.
• Travel required for research activities and for presenting research paper in professional meetings.
• Occasional evening/night/weekend work required according to the research emergency.
• Ability to lift and carry items up to 50 lbs. as needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Occasional standing or sitting for extended periods of time, lifting heavy objects, performing repetitive tasks.
• Requires long standing hours in the field during summer and crop season for phenotyping and data collection on sugarcane aphids.

QUALIFICATIONS:

PhD degree in Plant Breeding, Plant Sciences, or closely related field. Project management experience and specialty knowledge in statistics, genetics, and the analysis of multi-environment data are preferred.