Research Associate-Fixed Term

Position Summary

Position: A research associate (postdoctoral position) is available in the Evans Lab at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station in soil microbial ecology and global change. The associate would work on a 3-year NSF-funded project that investigates how soils respond to drought and drought legacies using a global network of rainout shelter experiments (DroughtNet). The successful candidate will join the Evans Lab at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological, leading investigations on soil microbial community response, and benefit from working closely with coPIs and postdocs from University of California Irvine (Allison Lab, enyzmes, modeling) and North Carolina State (Hawkes Lab, soil response) to accomplish the project goal of understanding microbial moisture responses to improve global ecosystem models. The candidate will also benefit from interacting with other personnel and projects in the Evans Lab, and at Kellogg Biological Station, both described below.

Start date and salary: The postdoctoral appointment is for two years, but will begin with a one-year appointment, with expectation that it would be renewed for a second year, and further, contingent on external funding.  Start date range is May 2021-September 2021; please describe preferred start date and/or constraints in the cover letter.

The Evans Lab: (www.saraheevanslab.weebly.com): The candidate will benefit from interactions with personnel and projects in the Evans Lab asking how rainfall, irrigation, and management affect soil health, sustainability and science translation to policy, increasing representation in science, and microbial dispersal and assembly. To investigate these questions, we use molecular techniques, physiological assays, modeling, and terrestrial climate manipulations. The lab is currently a vibrant and supportive community of graduate students and lab technicians/managers and undergraduates. This project will be supported by a technician to assist with project coordination and sample analysis. We have prioritized creation of a diverse environment that supports individuals regardless of cultural background, race, orientation, or ethnicity.

Postdoc development: KBS and the Evans Lab are committed to postdoctoral research career development. The postdoc will have professional development opportunities in the form mentoring, teaching, grant writing, public communication and others, while working on highly collaborative research projects to meet the postdoc’s defined career goals.

*review of applications will begin on 1/13/21

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, mole

Minimum Requirements

• A PhD in an appropriate discipline is required, as is demonstration of strong written and oral communication skills.
• Skillsets relevant to the position are the following: soil sampling, DNA and RNA extraction, amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, and bioinformatic skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of any of the following: soil sampling, DNA and RNA extraction, amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, and bioinformatic skills.
• Favorable skills are familiarity with modeling, project coordination and collaboration.

Required Application Materials

1) cover letter (2 page max) that includes: research accomplishments; future research interests and directions; experience related to this position; and interest in broader impacts (e.g. outreach, communication, education, DEI, etc.),

2) a CV, and

3) contact information (name, position, phone, email) for three references.

Special Instructions

You will need a 1) cover letter that includes research accomplishments, future research interests and directions, skills and experience related to this position, and areas of interest in broader impacts (e.g. outreach, communication, education, DEI, etc), 2) CV, and 3) contact information (name, position, phone, email) for three references.

Review of Applications Begins On

01/13/2021

Website

http://www.saraheevanslab.weebly.com

Department Statement

Kellogg Biological Station (www.kbs.msu.edu) is a premier biological research station located ~65 miles from the main campus of Michigan State. It is home to 10 faculty and their graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, with interests ranging from biogeochemistry to community ecology to evolution, as well as full-time research staff, visiting research scientists, and many summer undergraduates. It is also home to sites for several national networks, including: the KBS LTER (NSF-funded) and LTAR (USDA-funded), which investigate the fundamental and stakeholder-driven ecology of agricultural landscapes, respectively; and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, examining sustainable bioenergy systems.  

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.