Job Details

Job Location
St. Louis - Saint Louis, MO

Position Type
Full Time

Education Level
Graduate Degree

Job Shift
Day

Job Category
Biotech

The Yong-Qiang Charles An (USDA-ARS) Lab, in collaboration with the Dilip Shah Lab, has immediate openings for a Postdoctoral Associate. The research team is interested in developing wet and dry lab technologies to accelerate translating the massive amount of multi-omics data generated in the lab and available in the public (mainly on genome and transcriptome sequencing and phenotypic data) into QTL gene discovery and molecular breeding and applying inter-disciplinary approaches to understand molecular basis and gene networks underlying seed composition, soybean domestication and improvement, and trait relation for soybean seed quality and yield improvement.

The position is ideal for candidates with a strong interest in cross-disciplinary research and/or combining molecular biology and crop sciences with data sciences for biological discovery and crop improvement. For additional information about the research projects, please visit our website or contact yong-qiang.an@usda.gov. Recent related publications from the An lab is: Goettel, W., et.al. Nature Communication, 2022; Zhang, H., et.al. BMC Genomics, 2022.

Responsibilities:

• Support assigned research project and successfully achieve project goals
• Mentor graduate and/or undergraduate students as appropriate
• Conduct wet-lab experiments and/or dry-lab research as needed
• Write reports as required, communicate findings and prepare manuscripts for publication
• Other duties as assigned

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary and interactive research environment
• Initiative and demonstrated creative problem-solving skills
• Effective communication skills and ability to produce high-quality oral and written research products
• Live the Danforth Center values: Collaboration, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Integrity & Respect, Environmental Sustainability, and Stewardship

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a life science related discipline
• Training and experience in molecular biology, quantitative genetics, molecular evolution computational biology, systems biology, genomics, model and legume species, seed biology, primary metabolism, technology development, transgenic biology, genome editing, soybean genetics and breeding, AI or large-scale data analysis is desirable, but not required

Submission:

• Cover letter that describes past research experience
• CV
• Contact information for three (3) professional references

About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center:
Founded in 1998, The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is an independent, non-profit organization with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Our focus is scientific research at the nexus of food, energy and the environment to improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture. We assemble interactive teams of scientists and develop unique platforms to discover underlying principles about how plants work. We then convert that knowledge into useful crops and products, and partner with organizations that are best positioned to solve problems where they exist around the world. The Centers work is funded through competitive grants from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is proudly an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment decisions at the Danforth Center are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. It is our policy that the Danforth Center does not discriminate in employment opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin and status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities. As a federal contractor, the Danforth Center is required to comply with the 2021 Executive Order mandating full vaccination status of employees by December 8, 2021 unless the employee is legally entitled to an accommodation due to physical disability or sincerely held religious belief. If you need a reasonable accommodation to access the information provided on this web site, please contact Human Resources, at 314-587-1033 for further assistance.

Job Type: Full-time