Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Amarillo

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Bushland, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Texas A&M AgriLife Research

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University

Texas A&M Forest Service

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here to learn more about joining AgriLife!

Position Information

Job Summary:

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will conduct research in entomology, insect vector biology, plant virology, and vector–pathogen interactions under the supervision of Dr. Kiran Gadhave in the Gadhave Laboratory (https://tx.ag/gadhavelab) at Crop Stress Lab (Texas A&M AgriLife Research), Bushland, TX.

Responsibilities:

• •Independently lead research projects focused on plant virus–insect vector interactions across molecular, organismal, and ecological scales.
• •Investigate molecular mechanisms governing pathogen acquisition, establishment, dissemination, and transmission by arthropod vectors, including interactions among vector proteins, plant pathogens, and host plants.
• •Conduct functional studies of candidate vector and pathogen genes using approaches such as RNA interference, virus-induced gene silencing, transient expression, protein–protein interaction assays, and other molecular or functional genomic approaches.·
• •Design and conduct insect acquisition and transmission experiments using plant pathogens and their arthropod vectors under controlled laboratory, growth-chamber, greenhouse, and field conditions.
• •Apply molecular diagnostic approaches, including conventional PCR, RT-PCR, RT-qPCR/qPCR, and emerging nucleic-acid-based diagnostic platforms, to detect and quantify plant pathogens in insect vectors and host plants.
• •Contribute to genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, small-RNA, or other omics-based studies aimed at identifying molecular determinants of vector competence, pathogen transmission, and host–vector–pathogen interactions.
• •Conduct insect behavioral, developmental, survival, fitness, and transmission assays and integrate these measurements with molecular and pathogen-detection data.·
• •Participate in research on agriculturally important vector–pathogen systems, including thrips-transmitted viruses, aphid-transmitted pathogens, mite-transmitted pathogens, and other emerging insect vector–plant pathogen systems.
• •Analyze experimental and high-dimensional biological data using appropriate statistical and bioinformatic approaches and maintain accurate and reproducible research records.
• •Develop experimental protocols, troubleshoot assays, interpret results, and identify new research directions arising from ongoing projects.
• •Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to research proposals, technical reports, conference presentations, and other scientific communications.
• •Present research findings at scientific meetings, seminars, stakeholder meetings, and other professional venues.
• •Coordinate day-to-day management of assigned research projects, including experimental planning, maintenance of research organisms and biological materials, ordering supplies, managing inventories, and coordinating use and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• •Assist with maintenance of insect colonies, plant materials, pathogen cultures or isolates, and other biological resources necessary for the research program.
• •Mentor and provide technical guidance to graduate students, undergraduate students, research assistants, and visiting researchers.
• •Collaborate effectively with laboratory members and multidisciplinary collaborators in entomology, plant pathology, molecular biology, genomics, breeding, epidemiology, and related disciplines.
• •Ensure compliance with institutional requirements related to laboratory safety, greenhouse and field research, biological materials, biosafety, data management, and project reporting.
• •Will be responsible for driving an agency vehicle or rental vehicle to research sites and meetings/conferences.
• •Perform other research-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• •Ph.D. in Entomology, Plant Pathology, Plant Virology, Molecular Biology, Biology, Biotechnology, or a closely related discipline.
• •Valid Texas driver's license or ability to obtain within 45 days of employment.
• •Demonstrated research experience in at least one area relevant to insect vector–plant pathogen interactions, plant virology, insect molecular biology, vector biology, or molecular plant pathology.
• •Experience designing and independently conducting laboratory experiments and analyzing biological data.
• •Demonstrated proficiency with molecular biology techniques such as nucleic acid extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, RT-qPCR/qPCR, cloning, sequence analysis, and related molecular assays.
• •Evidence of scientific productivity through peer-reviewed publications.
• •Strong hands-on expertise in molecular biology techniques, which may include nucleic acid extraction, cloning, PCR, RT-qPCR/qPCR, sequence analysis, Agrobacterium-mediated infiltration, library preparation, gene-expression analysis, and protein–protein interaction assays.
• •Ability to independently design, execute, troubleshoot, analyze, and interpret complex experiments.
• •Ability to design and conduct plant pathogen acquisition and transmission experiments involving arthropod vectors under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions.
• •Strong quantitative and analytical skills and familiarity with appropriate statistical analysis and scientific data visualization.
• •Ability to maintain detailed, accurate, and reproducible experimental records and organize multiple concurrent research activities.
• •Strong scientific writing skills and demonstrated ability to prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.
• •Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate research findings effectively to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• •Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment.
• •Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• •Ability and willingness to mentor junior researchers and contribute positively to laboratory operations.
• •Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to prioritize experiments, meet deadlines, and manage multiple research activities simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications:

• •Knowledge of arthropod vector–plant pathogen interactions and pathogen transmission biology.
• •Knowledge of thrips biology and thrips-transmitted viruses, particularly tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) or related orthotospoviruses.
• •Knowledge of aphid biology and aphid-transmitted plant pathogens.
• •Knowledge of wheat curl mites or other mite vectors and mite-transmitted plant pathogens.
• •Knowledge of molecular determinants of insect vector competence.
• •Knowledge of plant virus biology, infectious clones, viral genetics, virus–host interactions, or plant antiviral responses.
• •Skill in RNA interference, virus-induced gene silencing, transient gene expression, or other functional genomic approaches.
• •Skill in protein–protein interaction approaches such as yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down assays, bimolecular fluorescence comple