The Lankau, Silva, and Ruark research groups at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are searching for a post-doctoral scholar to join our collaborative project investigating changes in soil microbial community composition and function over time under organic management. The project will focus on organic grain production in Wisconsin, and seeks to integrate changes in farm management, cycling of carbon and nitrogen, microbial community composition, and plant health using on-farm sampling, experiments in controlled conditions, and molecular characterization of microbial communities. We envision the post-doctoral scholar taking a lead role in the evaluation of microbial community composition and in the quantitative synthesis of the microbial data with parallel datasets of farming practices, soil biogeochemical cycling, and plant health.
Applicants should have a PhD in ecology, microbiology, soil science, agronomy, or related fields, excellent written and oral communication skills, quantitative and analytical skills, and a track record of first- author publication in peer-reviewed journals. Experience with some combination of the following skills is preferred but not required: - Molecular characterization of microbial communities - Measurements of soil carbon and nitrogen fluxes and pools - Statistical analyses of multivariate data - Field and greenhouse experimentation with plants Funding is available for one year with extension for a second year depending on satisfactory performance. Salary is set at $47,400/year and includes health and other benefits. Start date is flexible but with a preference for candidates that can begin by July 1. To apply, please send a CV, statement of interest in the position, and contact information for three references to lan...@wisc.edu. We will begin evaluating applications on May 1, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please contact Richard Lankau (lan...@wisc.edu) with any questions. For information about our research groups, go to: Lankau Lab: http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/lankau Silva Lab: www.uworganic.edu Ruark Lab: http://ruarklab.soils.wisc.edu
