Job Description

Location : 1200 N Dupont Highway, Dover

Job Type: Professional

Job Number: 2024-00160

Division: CAST

Department: HUMAN ECOLOGY

Opening Date: 08/30/2024

General Description of the Position


The Food Science and Biotechnology program at Delaware State University, Delaware, USA, seeks a highly motivated and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate with expertise in Plant Biotechnology, Molecular biology, and Natural Product Chemistry to assist PI in executing USDA-NIFA Award (No. 202438821-42144; Org: 6016). The Post-doctoral Fellow position, sponsored by a NIFA-USDA grant, is available immediately within the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology (CAST), The project integrates molecular biology, genetics, synthetic and system biology, and plant biotechnology including biochemistry/bioprocessing to develop and characterize novel bioengineered switch grass with enhanced downstream bioprocessing characteristics through reduction or elimination of lignin recalcitrance. The overall goal of the project is to make biofuels and bio-based chemical productions from such novel grasses much cheaper, thereby, increasing their global competitiveness as bio-energy feedstocks.

Essential Functions & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities


Essential Functions
The following are the functions essential to performing this job:

1. Assemble hyper thermophilic and mesophilic lignin hydrolyzing gene(s) in a single, multigene, or synthetic operon manners into plant expression plasmid vectors and using these constructed cassettes for developing/recovering transgenic switch grass.
2. Perform molecular, chemical, and biochemical analysis of transgenic switch grass expressing these single and multi-genes.
3. Training undergraduate and graduate students, summer interns, and visiting scholars.
4. Participate in the recovery, in vitro and greenhouse maintenance of transgenic switch grass plants.
5. Participate in local and international travel.
6. Provide data in a timely manner for grant reporting to funding agency.
7. Prepare manuscript for publication.
8. Participate in developing grant proposal to funding agencies.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The individual in this job must possess these skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation using some other combination of skills and abilities:

1. A solid skill set in molecular biology, such as assembling multi-genes in an expression cassette, codon optimization systems for optimal functional expression in planta.
2. Site mutagenesis, PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR, Southern, Northern, Western blots, protein engineering, biomass bioprocessing are required.
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to work independently with knowledge in monocots somatic embryogenesis, shoot organogenesis, plant regeneration, and monocots genetic transformation using Agrobacterium and biolistic.
4. Also essential is knowledge of using cloning and genomic software such NTI vector, megAlign, laser gene etc. for designing and constructing physical map of a gene construct.
5. A good knowledge in advanced analytical tools including UPLC-MS/HPLC/GC-MS/NMR etc. as demonstrated by published research articles.
6. Skills such as microbial fermentation, carbohydrate analysis, and enzyme activity are preferable but not required.

Qualification Standards

1. Education: Ph.D. in plant biology, genetics, genomics, plant biotechnology or a related discipline with strong publication records in high impact journals.
2. Highly motivated individual with a strong background in molecular biology and recombinant DNA systems /or plant biology, molecular genetics, protein engineering, biochemistry, analytical chemistry; recombinant protein characterization, biomass digestibility, and genetic transformation of monocots.

Performance Standards & EEO Statement


The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Exhibit high-level professionalism consistent with such skills and expertise as displayed in the curriculum vitae at the time of hiring.
2. Strick adherence to all University Policies, Procedures, and Processes.
3. Strick adherence to the University Code of Conduct for professional employees.
4. Generate high quality data to support intellectual property development and publications in high impact journals.
5. Publication of two high-impact manuscripts each year.
6. Professionally detail all protocols, materials, methods and results obtained from various projects and deposited them monthly in the dedicated folder located in the laboratory's computer.
7. Provide professional training in plant biotechnology, molecular biology and related disciplines to undergraduate and graduate students, summer interns, and visiting scholars.
8. Participate in the development of grant proposals and submission of such grants to funding agencies.
9. Provide the principal investigator, and in a timely manner, substantial details of all materials, methods and results from funded projects to facilitate reporting to the funding agency.
10. Exhibit strong capabilities to undertake on multiple tasks.
11. Maintain high-level laboratory safety and performance.

EEO Statement

Delaware State University is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community. The University is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The University is committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

Equal opportunity employer/program'' and "auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities''.

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

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Job Tags

Holiday work, Full time, Summer internship, Local area, Immediate start, Flexible hours,

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