Description

The Nelson laboratory at the Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca NY seeks a highly motivated scientist to fill a Postdoctoral appointment. The lab primarily focuses on understanding RNA-based mechanisms that confer resilience to abiotic stress in plants. We utilize computational, genomic, and RNA biochemical approaches ranging in scale from single cell to cross-species. This specific NSF-funded position will utilize gene regulatory network approaches to understand molecular responses to drought stress in Arabidopsis, Cotton, and Maize. This project is funded through the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Populations, and as such the applicant will be immersed in a large, collaborative, and highly interdisciplinary research cluster. See https://cropps.cornell.edu/ for more information on this unique multi-institute research center. For more information about the Nelson lab, please visit our website (https://btiscience.org/andrew-nelson/). 

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in plant biology, genetics, genomics, or related disciplines. We particularly seek applicants who have a strong background in transcriptomics, genomics, co-expression network analysis, or computational biology. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work well in a collaborative research environment are essential. Providing explicit evidence of collaborative science is encouraged. Please submit a resume which includes educational background, publication and work experience, and contact information for three references which are willing to be contacted for a recommendation. With the application, please submit a one-page motivation letter describing your research interest and goals. Please submit the application package by email to an425@cornell.edu with “job application” as the subject line. The review of applications will start on April 1st and will continue until suitable candidates are identified.

Requirements

Post-doctoral fellows are expected to be independent in performing and designing experiments, integrating feedback from group discussion into their project program, and reporting the project results at group meetings and (inter)national meetings. Independent writing of manuscripts and participation in group meetings, discussions and Institute-wide seminar series is mandatory. Post-docs will be encouraged to serve the role of mentor to others in the lab or act as the lead point of contact with collaborators on multidisciplinary projects.

In turn, the advisor will provide the applicant with thorough feedback on their project progress, manuscripts and grant applications, as well as provide them other opportunities to advance their career. In addition, we commit to developing the applicant’s network and soft skills, either personally through mentorship or through BTI/Cornell training programs. Networking opportunities are built into the framework of CROPPS, where the applicant will have the ability to interact with 40 early career scientists on a monthly basis. To facilitate open communication in this vein, a collaborative individual development plan (IDP) will be developed during the first six months and visited every six months.