Postdoctoral Research Associate - Systemic Immunity and Growth-Defense Trade-offs

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Researchers in the Biology Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) work to unravel the complexities of biological systems from how plants make oils to the role of proteins in disease. Our work helps to develop and apply novel tools in biochemistry, genetics, cell and structural biology, and bioimaging. We also leverage the unique capabilities of BNL's National Synchrotron Light Source-II (NSLS-II), Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure (LBMS) cryo-EM facility, and Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), which serve scientists worldwide. Our research supports the missions of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Sciences and the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research. Together with the Collider-Accelerator Department, we also manage the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory, studying space radiation effects on living and non-living systems.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Biology Department at BNL is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate the molecular basis of plant-pathogen interactions in bioenergy Sorghum. The successful candidate will study plant immune responses at the organismal, subcellular, and molecular levels to uncover novel genetic pathways regulating local and systemic acquired resistance, as well as growth-defense trade-offs. Using bacterial, fungal, and viral disease models, the research will focus on identifying and characterizing essential immune regulators that promote host cell survival and orchestrate induction of defense genes in coordination with growth processes across diverse diseases and environmental stresses.

This project is part of the newly established Plant Immunity Research Initiative (PIRI), a DOE-funded program aimed to resolve devastating diseases that affect bioenergy crops. PIRI's mission is to develop resilient bioenergy crops without reducing their growth, to promote sustainable bioenergy production.

The position will provide exceptional opportunity for research using advanced techniques in molecular and cell biology, biomolecular phase separation, genomics, bioinformatics, and bioimaging. Bioimaging tools include super-resolution confocal microscopy, X-ray fluorescence microscopy, and Cryo-EM. Molecular tools include mass spectrometry, protein chromatography, biochemical methods to study protein phase separation. The candidate will benefit from state-of-the-art research facilities at BNL, including latest Airy-scan super-resolution confocal microscope; NSLS-II's X-ray-based microscopes; CFN's single molecule FLIM/FRET system; LBMS's electron microscopes for cryo-EM tomography; and high-performance computational resources for data analysis.

This position offers a dynamic, collaborative environment, engaging with experts across plant biology, microbiology, structural biology, and computational sciences and has a high level of interaction with an international and multicultural scientific community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct plant inoculations with fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens, collect tissue samples, and quantify disease.

• Perform genomic and proteomic analyses of immune responses in resistant and susceptible plant-pathogen interactions.

• Clone genes, produce proteins, and conduct affinity purification, chromatography, phase analysis, SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting.

• Design and implement advanced CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing, including prime editing, to understand immune gene function.

• Perform high-resolution live imaging to study cellular and subcellular events during host-pathogen interaction.

• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ph.D. in plant biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, or a related field.

• Experience with whole plant assays, cell culture, and molecular biology techniques.

• Proven record of research publications in peer-reviewed journals.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bioinformatics skills (basic proficiency in MatLab, Python, or R).

• Experience with light and electron microscopy, including image analysis tools.

• Experience in plant expression assays, such as transient expression in plant leaves or protoplasts.

• Background in protein-protein interaction studies using bioluminescence, fluorescence, affinity purification, and Kd measurements.

OTHER INFORMATION:

• Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

• The initial appointment is for one year, with annual renewal contingent on performance and funding.

• Research is directed by Dr. Raul Zavaliev (rzavaliev@bnl.gov). Interested candidates should contact Dr. Zavaliev for detailed information about the research position.

• Candidates must have their Ph.D. earned before the start of the employment.

• BNL policy requires that candidates eligible for research associate appointments must not exceed a total of five years of relevant postdoctoral and/or R&D work experience after obtaining their Ph.D., excluding time taken for family planning, military service, illness, or other life-changing events.

• BNL is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. The salary for this position is $71,900/ year. Salary offers will be considered with the internal peer group.

• The work will be conducted at BNL with full access to all the institutional and departmental computational resources, services, equipment, and facilities.

• Candidates should submit a CV and a cover letter that includes a brief description of their research interests.