Postdoctoral opportunity at Texas A&M in hyphosphere and rhizosphere microbiomes

Postdoctoral Position for Multi-Omic Microbiome Study Uncovering Interkingdom Interactions in Soil Hyphosphere Pathobiomes

The Antony-Babu lab at Texas A&M University is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team and contribute to an exciting interdisciplinary research project focused on soil microbial ecology, plant microbiome interactions, and plant pathology. As a member of our team, you will work towards defining the pathobiome and dysbiotic-microbiome of Fusarium wilt in cotton. Using multi-omics tools, you will study fungal-bacterial interactions in the hyphosphere, contributing to the central goal of the research. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in microbiology and microbial ecology experimentation.

The position is based in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology on the College Station campus in Texas, with travel to field sites in Western Texas and other cotton-growing regions. This is a unique opportunity for collaboration between multidisciplinary teams, as the research is a collaborative effort between two universities and a USDA-ARS lab. Join us and contribute to cutting-edge research while collaborating with a team of experts in the field.

Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Sanjay Antony-Babu (sanjay@tamu.edu) with the subject line “Fusarium pathobiomes postdoc - query”. We can only consider applications that are posted online through the link provided in the last line of this document. Emailed applications cannot be considered. 

 

 

Responsibilities for this position include:

  • Conducting research utilizing both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches to study fungal-bacterial interactions in the hyphosphere.
  • Cultivating bacteria and fungi using traditional agar-plate methods and high-throughput techniques (e.g., Prospector Isolation Bio).
  • Developing innovative methods to study fungal-bacterial interactions in the hyphosphere and hyphal highways.
  • Analyzing microbiome data using multiple omics tools, including metagenomics, genomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, and microscopic imaging.
  • Performing high-throughput phenotyping assays (e.g., Biolog, enzyme assay) on environmental samples.
  • Conducting statistical analyses.
  • Assisting with bioinformatic analysis of large metabarcoding, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics datasets.
  • Mentoring and training graduate and undergraduate students in microbiology and microbial ecological experimentation.
  • Maintaining laboratory records and ensuring up-to-date lab safety documentation.
  • Preparing manuscripts for publication in scientific journals.
  • Completing other duties relevant to the project as required.

 

Required Education and Experience:

  • Ph.D. in a related field (microbial ecology, microbiology, plant pathology, etc.)

 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • In-depth conceptual and practical knowledge of aseptic microbiology.
  • Demonstrated experience in the microbial culture of bacteria and fungi, including growing microorganisms in both pure culture and in interactions.
  • Expertise in one or multiple omics methods relevant to the project, such as metabarcoding (16S rRNA), metagenomics (MAGs and functional annotation), genomics (assembly and annotations), and metabolomics.
  • Expertise in growing cotton in the greenhouse, growth chamber, and field, and infecting with soil-borne pathogens (preferably Fusarium).
  • Experience in high-throughput phenotyping assays, such as Biolog and enzyme assays.
  • Proficiency in data analysis relevant to microbiome research, including taxonomic diversity and functional annotations. The candidate should also be able to perform necessary statistical analyses and model synthesis, including network analyses for taxonomic and functional data.
  • Knowledge and/or hands-on experience in preparing libraries for sequencing.
  • Knowledge and/or hands-on experience in running Nanopore Minion and Illumina (MiSeq/HiSeq) sequencers.
  • Knowledge and/or hands-on experience in setting up hyphosphere and/or hyphal highway experiments.
  • Experience or interest in laboratory automation will be an advantage.

 

About the location:

  • The University is located in College Station, which combined with the twin city of Bryan, forms a metropolitan community of approximately 275,000 people with high-quality amenities and a low cost of living.  College Station is best known for being the home of Texas A&M University, while Bryan is known for its historic downtown and cultural attractions. Together, they offer a range of amenities and activities, including shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation. The area is also home to several parks, lakes, and natural areas, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Additionally, the cities are conveniently located within driving distance of major Texas cities like Houston, Austin, and Dallas.

 

About the university:

  • Texas A&M University is a public research university with its main campus located in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and is now one of the largest universities in the United States, with a student body of over 70,000 students. Texas A&M offers over 130 undergraduate and 268 graduate degree programs across 16 colleges and schools, including business, engineering, agriculture, and sciences. Texas A&M University, the only institution in the state to hold Land, Sea and Space Grant status, is a Tier I research university. Enrollment at TAMU is approximately 71,000 students, of which 15,000 are graduate and professional students; the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences includes 15 departments and over 300 faculty. The university is known for its strong research programs and is classified as an "R1 Doctoral University - Very High Research Activity" by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Texas A&M is also home to several well-known traditions, including the "Aggie Ring" and the "12th Man."

  

How to apply:

  • If you have a passion for microbiology and microbial ecology and are eager to contribute to cutting-edge research in this field, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
  • This is a grant funded position, continued employment contingent on availability of funds.
  • To be considered for this position, all applicants are required to upload both a cover letter and curriculum vitae. It is imperative that the cover letter explicitly addresses how your previous research experience and training complement the aforementioned skills and knowledge. 
  • To be considered, all applications should be posted to: https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/AgriLife_Research_External/job/College-Station-TX/Postdoctoral-Research-Associate_R-060505

 

 

Application deadline: