Postdoctoral Scholar in Remote Sensing of Biotic Stress

Posted: 8/9/2021

Description

The University of California, Riverside is recruiting a Postdoctoral Scholar to develop improved tools for the detection of biotic stress (diseases and weeds) in annual crops in the Southwestern U.S. The Scholar will support the USDA-NIFA-funded project “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Water, Nutrient, Salinity, And Pest Management in The Western U.S.” (https://ai4sa.ucr.edu/). The overall goal of this project is to develop advanced tools for early stress (abiotic and biotic) detection and decision support for crop management. The Scholar will work with agricultural scientists, extension personnel, and growers and other industry clientele to collect imagery via unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and satellites, and georeferenced data on pest outbreaks via field surveys. The Scholar will use these data in collaboration with computer scientists to develop machine learning algorithms for the detection and management of biotic stress. The crops and pest systems to be included in this project are flexible but are expected to be relevant to agriculture in Arizona and California.

Responsibilities

• Manage small plot field experiments on detection of diseases or weeds with remote sensing.
• Collect imagery of controlled experiments and commercial fields using a UAS and satellite platforms(s).
• Collect georeferenced data on the incidence and severity of disease and weed outbreaks.
• Collect and assemble weather or environmental data associated with areas of interest, and collate epidemiological or phenological information on diseases and weeds from the literature.
• Develop models and/or algorithms to detect the presence of biotic stress (weeds, pathogens) on vegetable crops.
• Mentor undergraduate students participating in this project.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in an agricultural science (e.g., plant pathology, weed science), agricultural engineering, computer science, or a related discipline. 
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan and conduct research, and communicate results at professional meetings and in peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to actively participate in a mutually-supportive and respectful team environment.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Knowledge and experience in plant pathology, weed science, or pest management.
• Experience with agricultural field work and collaborating with growers and industry clientele.
• FAA Part 107 certification or experience with UASs.
• Knowledge and experience in data science including spatial and temporal analysis of imagery data, GIS, or machine learning.

Appointment

The position is 100% time and available immediately with an expected start date in Fall 2021. The successful candidate will be initially appointed for one year, with funding available for reappointment of up to two additional years based on satisfactory performance. The position will be based on the University of California, Riverside main campus, and will include travel to field locations in Southern California. Information on salary ranges, benefits, and other aspects can be found here.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, current curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references to Dr. Milt McGiffen (milt.mcgiffen@ucr.edu) and Dr. Alexander Putman (alexander.putman@ucr.edu). Review of applications will begin September 6, 2021 and continue until the position is filled.

UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additional Information

In the heart of Inland Southern California, UC Riverside is located on nearly 1,200 acres near Box Springs Mountain in Southern California; the park-like campus provides convenient access to the vibrant and growing Inland region. The campus is a living laboratory for the exploration of issues critical to growing communities' air, water, energy, transportation, politics, the arts, history, and culture. UCR gives every student, faculty and staff member the resources to explore, engage, imagine and excel. UC Riverside is recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse research universities in the country boasting several key rankings of which we are extremely proud. For example, UC Riverside is the top university in the United States for social mobility (U.S. News 2020) and is a member of the University Innovation Alliance, the leading national coalition of public research universities committed to improving student success for low-income, first-generation, and students of color.

Questions

Feel free to contact Dr. Milt McGiffen (milt.mcgiffen@ucr.edu) and/or Dr. Alexander Putman (alexander.putman@ucr.edu) with any questions.

Junior Specialist Position

Manosalva Laboratory

Posted: 7/12/2021

The UCR avocado rootstock breeding program is recruiting a highly motivated scientist to work on different research projects recently funded by USDA and various industry partners. The UCR breeding program is a very active and recognized avocado breeding program worldwide. The goal of the program is to develop and release the next generation of avocado rootstocks resistant to biotic (i.e. Phytophthora cinnamomi) and/or abiotic stresses (i.e. salinity, drought) using traditional breeding complemented with genomic-assisted breeding approaches.

Job description. The successful candidate will conduct mainly greenhouse and field work. The candidate will work under the supervision of senior personnel and will work in collaboration with several members from the Manosalva Laboratory as well as collaborators from other institutions. The duties for this position are described below:

• Maintenance and cultural care of avocado liners, seedlings, and trees at the greenhouse and fields at UCR (Riverside), South Coast Extension and Research Center (Irvine), and other off- campus cooperator sites on public and private land (Southern and Northern California).
• Assist in the establishment of new rootstock trials and collect field data quarterly from all rootstock trials (Southern and Northern California). The data collection will be conducted in collaboration with other lab members.
• Conduct a field experiment aiming to test the efficacy of essential oils on controlling plant diseases in avocado growing at organic certified orchards in California.
• Conduct the statistical analyses of the field data. This task will be performed under the supervision of senior personnel.
• Assist lab members in all the activities related to the screening of avocado for resistance to pathogens and other stressors under laboratory and greenhouse conditions.

Minimum qualifications and requirements for this position.

• Bachelor’s degree and/or Master’s degree in Biology, Soil and Crop Science, Plant Protection, Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Agronomy, Plant Breeding, or related areas.
• Statistical analysis skills.
• Highly organized person that works independently and in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment.
• Possession of valid driver’s license. 
• This position requires travel outside of normal business hours and overnight travel (1-day to up to one-week trips) to different locations in California (Northern, Central Valley, and Southern). Travel and subsistence expenses will be covered by the program.
• Work outdoor in warm weather especially during hot summer months for data collection at the rootstock field trials.
• Ability to carry up to 50 pounds.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working with tree crops.
• Experience conducting greenhouse and field experiments.
• Ability to drive Gator utility vehicles.
• Knowledge of using weather stations, GPS and satellite information, as well as sensor agriculture equipment and tools.

UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

How to Apply/Contact. The position is immediately available. Screening will start on July 31st, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position is renewable for an additional year, depending upon performance. Candidates should apply directly to Dr. Patricia Manosalva by submitting a single PDF file containing: a cover letter indicating how you meet the minimum qualifications and skills, a curriculum vitae (CV), and contact information  for three references to patricia.manosalva@ucr.edu. The subject of the email should be “Junior Specialist Position.”

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Two Postdoctoral Positions- Jin Lab

Posted: 3/10/2021

Two postdoctoral positions supported by a NIH R35 MIRA grant are available immediately in Dr. Hailing Jin’s lab
Position Description: Two postdoctoral researcher positions are available in Dr. Hailing Jin’s Laboratory at University of California, Riverside to study RNA trafficking and extracellular vesicle-mediated communications between plants and pathogens (Science 2018, 360:1126-1129; Science 2013, 342:118-123; Nature Plants 2016, 2:16151; Nature Plants 2021, DOI:10.1038/s41477-021-00863-8). The successful candidate will utilize molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and cell biology approaches to study the functional mechanisms of extracellular vesicles, the transferred RNAs and other molecules in plant immunity and pathogen virulence.

The University of California is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. UC Riverside provides a vibrant intellectual atmosphere and a pleasant working environment, as well as career development activities designed for post-doctoral researchers. The position is initially for one year and renewable upon satisfactory performance. Salary is based on experience according to UC Riverside pay scales with a minimum annual salary of $54,540.

Qualification and Experience
Applicants should have recently received a Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular biology, fungal biology, plant biology or related disciplines. Highly motivated candidates with strong background and experience in RNA biology, vesicle transport and trafficking and/or host-pathogen interactions are encouraged to apply. Good publication record and prior experience in bioinformatics are highly desirable.  Good written and oral communication skills and the ability to work well in a collaborative environment are also required.

Application
Please send a single PDF file including a personal statement, a full CV, contact information of three references to: Prof. Hailing Jin at hailingj@ucr.edu. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Positions will remain open until filled.

Postdoctoral Position- Jin Lab 

Posted: 3/10/2021

A postdoctoral position supported by a USDA NIFA grant is available immediately in Dr. Hailing Jin’s lab
Position Description: A postdoctoral researcher position is available in the Jin Lab at University of California, Riverside to develop effective solutions to control citrus Huanglongbing (PNAS, 2021, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019628118; Plant Biotechnology Journal, 2020, doi: 10.1111/pbi.13502). The successful candidate will utilize molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and cell biology approaches to study the functions of antimicrobial peptides, and other positive and negative regulators of citrus immune responses.

The University of California is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. UC Riverside provides a vibrant intellectual atmosphere and a pleasant working environment, as well as career development activities designed for post-doctoral researchers. The position is initially for one year and renewable upon satisfactory performance. Salary is based on experience according to UC Riverside pay scales with a minimum annual salary of $54,540. https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2021/2021-postdoc-salary-scales/t23.pdf

Qualification and Experience
Applicants should have recently received a Ph.D. in molecular biology, plant biology or related disciplines. Highly motivated candidates with strong background and experience in citrus greening, citrus biology, plant immunity and plant bacterial interaction are encouraged to apply. Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work well in a collaborative environment are also required.

Application
Please send a single PDF file including a personal statement, a full CV, contact information of three references to: Prof. Hailing Jin at hailingj@ucr.edu. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Positions will remain open until filled.

Postdoctoral Position in Viral Immunity

Posted: 3/2/2021

The Morrison lab at the University of California, Riverside, is now accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar position in the area of virus-host interactions.

Research in the Morrison lab focuses on understanding the impact of virus-host interactions on viral pathogenesis and virus-mediated disease progression. Specifically, the Morrison lab studies (1) roles of lung myeloid populations in respiratory virus infections, (2) mechanisms of interferon antagonism by emerging viruses, (3) unknown aspects of interferon signaling regulation, and (4) host responses to viral pathogens. The recruit has the potential to lead ongoing projects in the Morrison lab or propose their own independent idea relevant to ongoing projects in the lab.

Eligible candidates should have, or be close to completing, a Ph.D. or equivalent in immunology, virology, or related fields. Highly motivated individuals with experience in cellular immunology, molecular virology, protein biochemistry, and/or animal experimentation will be given high priority. Additional minimum qualifications include (1) at least one peer-reviewed first-author publication in a related field, (2) willingness to perform animal experiments, (3) effective written and oral communication skills, (4) the ability to work well independently and in a collaborative environment, and (5) a passion for host-virus interaction research. Previous experience with transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and/or bioinformatics is preferred. UC Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

How to apply: The position could commence as early as May 1, 2021 but no later than August 30, 2021. Screening will begin March 15 and will continue until the position is filled. Salary for first year Postdoctoral Scholars begins at $54,540; additional Postdoctoral employment information is available at https://graduate.ucr.edu/postdoctoral-studies. All UC Riverside Postdoctoral Scholars are eligible to participate in the Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plans, which include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Interested applicants should apply directly to Dr. Juliet Morrison via email at juliet.morrison@ucr.edu by submitting a single PDF containing: a curriculum vitae (CV), a cover letter indicating your research interests and how you meet the minimum qualifications, and a list of three references and their contact information. The subject of the email should be “Postdoctoral Position in Viral Immunity”.

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The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Postdoctoral Scholar position in fungal ecology

Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, UCR

Posted: 1/12/2021

The Glassman Lab at the University of California, Riverside is now accepting applications for a postdoctoral scholar position focused on fungal ecology research. The Glassman lab studies ectomycorrhizal, arbuscular mycorrhizal, and saprobic fungal ecology, bacterial-fungal interactions, decomposition, the impacts of fires on fungi and bacteria, and the use of microbes to improve post-fire regeneration. The recruit has the potential to lead ongoing projects in the Glassman lab or propose their own independent idea relevant to ongoing projects in the Glassman lab. We use a combination of approaches including fieldwork, greenhouse work, culturing, molecular ecology, next generation sequencing, bioinformatics and multivariate statistical analyses to advance fungal ecology. For more information on the Glassman lab please visit our website: https://sydneyglassman.wordpress.com.

Applicants should have, or be close to receiving, a PhD in microbial ecology, mycology, molecular ecology, or a closely related area. Applicants with experience working with arbuscular and/or ectomycorrhizal fungi will be given high priority. Additional minimum qualifications include: at least one peer-reviewed first-author publication in a related field, willingness to perform field work in California, effective written and oral communication skills, ability to work well independently and as part of a team, and passion for fungi. Additional necessary qualifications include: bacterial or fungal culturing, expertise in ecological experimental design, programming in R, advanced multivariate statistical analysis, bioinformatics, and molecular techniques including DNA extractions, PCRs, and 16S or ITS sequencing. Experience with or desire to learn network analysis, metagenomics, genomics, or transcriptomics would be a bonus.

UC Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.

How to apply/contact: The position could commence as early as April 15, 2021 but no later than July 15, 2021. Screening will begin February 15 and will continue until the position is filled. Salary scales for first-year postdoctoral scholars begin at $53,460 and are available on this website (https://graduate.ucr.edu/postdoctoral-studies). All UC Riverside Postdoctoral scholars are eligible to participate in the Postdoctoral Scholar Benefit Plans, which include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Candidates should apply directly to Dr. Sydney Glassman via email to sydneyg@ucr.edu by submitting a single PDF file containing: Curriculum vitae (CV) and cover letter indicating your research interests and how you meet the minimum qualifications, and listing the contact information of three references. The subject of the email should be “Postdoctoral Scholar in Fungal Ecology”.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Postdoctoral Scholar in Plant Biology

University of California, Riverside

Job Details: A post-doctoral research opportunity is available in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology at the University of California, Riverside to study the mechanism of plant response to various types of stresses using integrated molecular, genetic, bioinformatic and metabolomic approaches in the model plant Arabidopsis. We are seeking a motivated and skilled postdoc to conduct research that focuses on plant response to biotic and abiotic stress, and cross talk with phytohormones.

In addition to conducting research, the incumbent will have roles in training undergraduate and graduate researchers within the lab, preparing manuscripts and cooperating with other team members and collaborators.

Job Requirements: A Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, Plant Biology, or a closely related field. The position requires significant experience in working with Arabidopsis thaliana and strong analytical ability. Experience in abiotic stress will be an advantage. The successful candidate must possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication (both verbal and written) skills, including a strong record of peer-reviewed publications. Expertise in molecular biology and bioinformatics will be required. Ideally, the candidate should have received their Ph.D. within the past 1-2 years.

To Apply:  Please send a single .pdf file that includes: (1) cover letter detailing your research experiences, interests and career goals; (2) currriculum vitae, and (3) contact information for three references to Dr. Emma Gachomo (emma.gachomo@ucr.edu).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.