Research Fellow II

The Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences at Auburn University is seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow to support and lead research activities in crop molecular breeding, plant pathology, genomics, and disease resistance. The successful candidate will conduct original and collaborative research focused on improving soybean, cotton, and other agronomic crops through integrated field, greenhouse, molecular, genomic, and bioinformatics approaches.

This position will contribute to research programs focused on disease resistance, host-pathogen interactions, germplasm evaluation, molecular marker development, GWAS, RNA-seq, QTL mapping, genomic prediction, and multi-environment field trials. The individual selected for this position will assist with project planning, experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, grant proposal development, and supervision of students and technical staff.

Candidates are required to upload the following (please combine into one document):

1. Cover letter that addresses the experience pertinent to the responsibilities of the position

2. Current curriculum vitae

3. Copies of academic transcripts

4. Names, email addresses, and phone numbers for three professional references.

• Develop, coordinate, and conduct research projects focused on crop improvement, disease resistance, plant pathology, molecular breeding, genomics, and field-based phenotyping. 
• Design and implement greenhouse, laboratory, and field experiments to screen soybean, cotton, and related crop germplasm and breeding populations for resistance to economically important fungal, bacterial, viral, nematode, and emerging diseases, including target spot, Cercospora leaf blight, bacterial blight, areolate mildew, Fusarium wilt, root-knot nematode, and reniform nematode. 
• Conduct pathogen isolation, culturing, inoculum preparation, pathogenicity assays, disease phenotyping, and molecular identification of plant pathogens.
• Perform molecular and genomic analyses, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RT-qPCR, SNP genotyping, marker-assisted selection, and preparation of samples for next-generation sequencing.
• Analyze phenotypic, genotypic, transcriptomic, and multi-environment trial datasets using appropriate statistical, genomic, and bioinformatics approaches.
• Conduct population structure analysis, phylogenetic analysis, GWAS, genomic prediction, QTL mapping, RNA-seq analysis, and differential gene expression analysis.
• Coordinate field trials, including experimental design, planting, plot management, disease and agronomic data collection, harvest, seed processing, and data management.
• Assist with breeding population development and germplasm improvement, including crossing, population advancement, trait evaluation, selection, and evaluation of agronomic, quality, disease resistance, and stress tolerance traits.
• Prepare manuscripts, grant proposals, research reports, conference abstracts, presentations, extension materials, and other project-related documents, while supervising and training students, visiting scholars, and technical staff and ensuring compliance with university, biosafety, and laboratory safety policies.

Level II:

• Ph.D. in plant breeding, crop science, genetics, plant pathology, molecular biology, biotechnology or a closely related field.
• 2 years of postdoctoral experience in relevant research in crop sciences, molecular breeding, genomics, plant pathology, or related agricultural research.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience conducting applied plant breeding and disease resistance research in soybean, cotton, or other agronomic crops, including crossing, breeding population advancement, germplasm evaluation, disease screening, controlled inoculation assays, and selection of resistant or improved breeding lines.
• Experience molecular breeding, genomics, SNP genotyping, GWAS, QTL analysis, RNA-seq or transcriptomic analysis, pathogen identification, and use of statistical tools such as R, SAS, or related software.
• Experience managing field research operations, breeding trials, disease nurseries, or greenhouse screening experiments.
• Experience preparing grant proposals, manuscripts, research reports, conference presentations, and project-related documents

• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting field, greenhouse, laboratory, or computational research experiments.
• Strong knowledge of experimental design, research protocols, data collection, data analysis, and scientific reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare research results for publication and presentation. 
• Ability to supervise, train, and coordinate students, technical staff, or research personnel.

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence:We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You:Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama:The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
• Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!