plant defense signaling PostDoc positions and fellowships

The Postdoctoral Associate in Seed Biology and Technology at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will conduct research on seed-applied, non-neonicotinoid protection strategies targeting early-season crop pests such as Delia spp. in New York cropping systems. The role involves designing and executing laboratory, greenhouse, controlled-environment, and field experiments to evaluate seed coating integrity, delivery of plant defense signaling compounds, and interactions with seed pathogens and pest pressure under cold soil conditions, contributing to biologically based IPM solutions.

This postdoctoral position focuses on investigating interactions between pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes and plant leaf systems within the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University. The role involves designing and conducting independent and collaborative research on plant–microbe interactions, emphasizing foliar microbiology, analyzing experimental data, preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, and presenting findings at conferences. Additionally, the incumbent will contribute 10% effort to outreach and extension activities, communicating research to growers, industry partners, and the public.

This postdoctoral associate position at Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture focuses on developing and evaluating non‑neonicotinoid seed‑applied protection strategies for early‑season pests in New York cropping systems. The role involves laboratory, greenhouse, controlled‑environment, and field experiments, seed coating formulation, data analysis, manuscript preparation, mentoring of undergraduate assistants, and stakeholder engagement. A Ph.D. in a related field is required, and the position offers an annual salary of $63,480.

The Wiedenheft Lab at Montana State University seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher to investigate the structural mechanisms of bacterial immune systems that defend against viral infection. The project focuses on CRISPR–Cas complexes, Defense-associated Reverse Transcriptases (DRTs), Retrons, and other newly discovered anti-phage defense systems using state-of-the-art single-particle cryo-EM. The successful candidate will determine high-resolution structures, integrate structural data with biochemical and genetic findings, and contribute to manuscript preparation and conference presentations while mentoring junior researchers.

This postdoctoral fellowship at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Gainesville, Florida focuses on identifying genes and metabolites associated with resistance against pathogens and insect pests in sweetcorn and maize. The position involves designing experiments, analyzing biological and chemical data, and disseminating findings in peer-reviewed journals. The successful candidate will receive a monthly stipend and contribute to developing new methods for controlling agricultural pests and diseases.

A postdoctoral position is available at Duke University to study gibberellin signaling and transcriptional regulation in plants. The project investigates how DELLA proteins function as central signaling hubs, using structural, biochemical, and genomics approaches to understand plant growth regulation mechanisms.

This PhD position focuses on investigating the function of plant splicing regulators in Arabidopsis thaliana under environmental stresses such as heat and darkness. The project combines experimental molecular genetics and biochemistry approaches to study differential regulation at the organ level, integrating proteomic and transcriptomic analyses. Candidates will contribute to understanding how splicing mechanisms modulate plant responses to abiotic signals, gaining expertise in advanced molecular biology techniques.

This two‑year full‑time postdoctoral position at Umeå University’s Department of Plant Physiology focuses on the DYNAMO project, which investigates how plants sense and interpret the physical and chemical state of their cell walls and how wall‑state signals govern growth, differentiation, and stress responses. The successful candidate will use optogenetic and inducible genetic tools, Brillouin microscopy, and live‑cell signalling reporters in Arabidopsis thaliana (with validation in hybrid aspen) to determine whether wall states propagate across tissues via active sensing rather than passive mechanical spread. The role requires expertise in plant cell wall biology, biochemical assays, molecular and cellular biology techniques, protein expression/purification, optogenetics, confocal microscopy, and strong English communication skills.

The Postdoctoral Associate in Seed Biology and Technology at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will conduct research on seed-applied, non-neonicotinoid protection strategies targeting early-season crop pests such as Delia spp. in New York cropping systems. The role involves designing and executing laboratory, greenhouse, controlled-environment, and field experiments to evaluate seed coating integrity, delivery of plant defense signaling compounds, and interactions with seed pathogens and early-season pest pressure under cold soil conditions. The associate will contribute to developing seed treatment compatibility guidelines and biologically based pest management approaches aligned with New York State IPM priorities and the phase-out of neonicotinoid seed treatments.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate position at Texas A&M AgriLife Research in College Station focuses on investigating plant interactions with pathogens and insects. The successful candidate will develop improved diagnostic tools and elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying pathogen transmission, herbivory, and plant infection. Responsibilities include protocol development, molecular research, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Applicants must hold a PhD in a related field, with preferred experience in bioinformatics, molecular biology, sequencing, and signaling pathways.