Postdoctoral Fellowship: Engineering Plant Symbionts for Enhanced Crop Prod Full-time NEW

Project Description:

USDA-ARS laboratory in Wapato is seeking one highly motivated and innovative postdoctoral researchers to join our team in pioneering a groundbreaking approach to plant biotechnology. We have developed a novel platform technology based on engineered “Symbionts” – non-pathogenic, gall-like structures formed by the controlled expression of plant growth regulatory (PGR) genes derived from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. These Symbionts, vascularly integrated with the host plant, serve as bioreactors for the production and delivery of valuable molecules, offering a new paradigm for enhancing crop productivity and resilience.

Research Objectives:

The successful candidate will contribute to the advancement of Symbiont technology by focusing on one or more of the following research areas:

• Optimization of Therapeutic Molecule Production: Refine Symbiont engineering strategies to maximize the production and homogeneity of specific therapeutic molecules, such as antimicrobial peptides.
• Enhancement of Molecule Delivery: Investigate mechanisms to improve the transport of therapeutic molecules from the Symbiont to the host plant’s phloem, ensuring efficient delivery and efficacy.
• Identification of Effective Molecules: Identify and characterize molecules capable of effectively targeting and eliminating phytoplasmas, such as those causing X-disease in economically important crops.
• Mass Production of Therapeutic Molecules: Develop and optimize scalable production systems, including temporary immersion systems and Symbiont tissue cultures, for the generation of large quantities of therapeutic molecules for agricultural applications.

Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct experiments using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches.
• Apply advanced molecular biology, microbiology, and plant physiology techniques.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data, and prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Present research findings at scientific conferences and meetings.
• Collaborate effectively with other researchers within the lab and across disciplines.

Qualifications:

• US Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of the United States.
• Ph.D. in Plant Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Strong background in plant tissue culture, molecular cloning, and gene expression analysis.
• Experience with Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and plant genetic engineering is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Skills Acquired/Honed:

This postdoctoral fellowship offers a unique opportunity to develop expertise in cutting-edge plant biotechnology techniques, including:

• Tissue culture techniques
• PCR, qPCR, RT-qPCR
• Cloning
• Co-culture systems
• Immune assays (ELISA, immunoblots, immuno-histochemistry)
• Microscopy (fluorescent, laser capture)
• DNA, RNA, and protein analysis
• Genome modification evaluation
• Proteomics, transcriptomics, and genomics
• Data analysis and bioinformatics

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