Subject: Postdoctoral positions in functional, genetic and community diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi
We are currently seeking qualified applicants for 3 postdoctoral positions to study functional, genetic and taxonomic diversity in a keystone plant-microbe symbiosis (pines and ectomycorrhizal fungi). These positions offer a unique position to use cutting edge molecular techniques to work across scientific disciplines and multiple scales of biodiversity. Specific projects include a continental scale survey of fungal diversity using high throughput sequencing, population genomics of key fungal symbionts, transcriptional studies of plants and fungi in symbiosis, and linkages between mycorrhizal functional diversity and ecosystem processes. Ideal postdoctoral applicants will have some experience relevant to these project areas, e.g. genomics, community ecology, fungal and/or plant genetics, bioinformatics, etc. The positions are funded under a collaborative research grant between the Univ. of Minnesota (Kabir Peay), Univ. of California Berkeley (Tom Bruns & John Taylor) and Duke University (Rytas Vilgalys). All PI's use fungi and cutting edge molecular tools to address key questions in genetics, evolution and ecology. Representative publications from the respective PI’s can be found below. One postdoc will be housed at each university, but postdocs will have frequent opportunity to interact with PI’s at all three institutions during annual project meetings and field work. Interested candidates should send (1) a cover letter explaining interest and relevant qualifications (e.g. technical or analytical skills), and (2) a CV listing education, relevant publications and contact information for 4 references to Kabir Peay (peay0...@umn.edu). Applicants should have a PhD or plan to complete their degree by summer of 2011. Please indicate in your cover letter what types of projects you would be interested in and what institutions you would be willing to work at. Positions will be funded for 1 year with the possibility of multi-year extensions. Start date is somewhat flexible but applicants should anticipate starting around summer or Fall 2011. Lab Webpages: Vilgalys Lab (Duke University): http://fds.duke.edu/db/aas/Biology/faculty/fungi Taylor Lab (UC Berkeley): http://pmb.berkeley.edu/~taylor/people/jt.html Bruns Lab (UC Berkeley): pmb.berkeley.edu/~bruns/people/tb.html Peay Lab (Univ. of Minnesota): plpa.cfans.umn.edu/Kabir_Peay.html
