Work type: Faculty/Academic Staff


Major Administrative Unit / College: College Of Agriculture And Nat Resources


Department: Plant Soil And Microbial Sciences


Salary: Salary Commensurate with Experience


Location: East Lansing


Categories: Full Time (90-100%), Fixed Term Academic Staff, Agriculture, Research/Scientific, Non-Union

Position Summary

The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences invites applications from outstanding candidates for a fixed term Research Associate position in the area of: Soil Microbial Ecology. This position is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy to PI’s Dr. Lisa Tiemann, (http://tiemann.psm.msu.edu/) collaborating with Drs. Sarah Evans, Maren Friesen and James Cole (MMPRNT project website:http://rhizosphere.weebly.com/). The project is focused on understanding the linkages between the rhizosphere microbiome and plant transcriptome that control plant C allocation in support of N acquisition. We envision this research associate will focus on linking plant C budget and allocation patterns with soil N-cycling dynamics and rhizosphere metagenomes using previously collected field data and newly generated sequence and high-through-put qPCR data. There is also opportunity for design and implementation of new experiments within the scope of the MMPRNT project.

Responsibilities will include: Molecular work including analysis of amplicon and shot-gun sequence data; DNA and RNA extraction and sample preparation for sequencing and high-throughput quantitative-PCR including validation primer sets output from new primer design software; assisting with field work in Michigan; conducting and/or coordinating biogeochemical analyses; data analysis and manuscript preparation; presentation of results at national and international scientific meetings. In addition, the research associate will assist with lab organization and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students and engage in a stimulating research environment created by multiple researchers working on coordinated aspects of the project.

This is a 12-month fixed term position with potential for renewal subject to performance and continuation of funding.

Required Degree

Doctorate -soil ecology, soil microbiology, soil sc




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