Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Plant Functional Genomics Group (www.uhriglab.com)

Application Deadline: July 31st 2023

The Uhrig Lab & Edmonton:

• -  The Ph.D. position will be hosted through the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in the laboratory of Dr. R. Glen Uhrig.

• -  The University of Alberta is a Top 5 Canadian university, with the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta offering a diverse and engaging community for research and education.

• -  Coupled with its reputation, The University of Alberta is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, which is a vibrant and cost-effective location to undertake graduate research.

• -  The Uhrig lab is comprised of post-doctoral fellows, technicians and graduate students of multiple backgrounds and nationalities. Correspondingly, we offer a diverse and supportive work environment that aims to balance research achievement and life.

  Research and Training:

  The Uhrig lab is focused on understanding how plant cells are regulated throughout the day at the protein-level using advanced quantitative proteomics, biochemistry and diverse functional genomic techniques. At the protein-level, protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as protein phosphorylation, play a critical role in the regulation of cellular processes. The PhD research of the applicant will focus on utilizing quantitative proteomics and functional genomics to define novel intersections between cell signaling events and the underlying cellular processes governing plant growth and development. To undertake this work, the student will utilize the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, but will be part of a research program utilizing a diversity of plant systems directly and through extensive collaboration.

  The applicant student will obtain hands-on skills using advanced quantitative proteomics, biochemistry and functional genomics. The PhD applicant will learn a variety of cutting-edge techniques (e.g. hands-on training with mass spectrometry, targeted biochemistry, amongst others) and will seek to answer fundamental questions regarding how different levels of cellular regulation intersect to allow plants to grow under changing environmental conditions. Outcomes of this project will feed into collaborative applied research efforts aimed at developing better crop varieties through genetic engineering, genome editing or advanced breeding. Within the general scope of the project, the student will be encouraged to develop independent and creative lines of inquiry, with support from Dr. R. Glen Uhrig and other lab members. The student will be given training and support in a number of aspects of science including: technical skills, communication and critical thinking to prepare them for careers in academia, industry, publishing and other fields.

Applicant Qualifications:

Candidates should have most of the skills below:
1. BSc or MSc in biochemistry, plant science or equivalent
2. Excellent oral and written abilities in English.
3. An ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team. 4. Tangible hands-on experience with molecular and/or biochemical techniques. 5. Basic bioinformatics experience (e.g. R, Python)

Eligibility, Admissions and Finances:

For all admission requirements and funding details on graduate studies in the Department of Biological Sciences, please refer to the Department of Biological Sciences website (https://www.ualberta.ca/biological-sciences/graduate-studies). Admission is subject to academic and English language requirements set by the Department (https://www.ualberta.ca/biological- sciences/graduate-studies/for-applicants).

Interested students are highly encouraged to apply for eligible internal and external graduate student scholarships and will receive active support from the Uhrig lab in these funding applications (https://www.ualberta.ca/graduate-studies/awards-and-funding/scholarships). Additional funding and financial aid opportunities for international students: https://www.ualberta.ca/graduate-studies/awards- and-funding/international-student-funding.

Appointment Start Date: January 1st 2024

Contact:
Interested applicants should send a 2-page CV to ruhrig[at]ualberta.ca (www.uhriglab.com) that includes references.

**Only short-listed applicants will have their references solicited for letters of recommendation and be asked to interview via Zoom**.

The Plant Systems Biology and Agricultural Microbial Ecology Groups at the University of Manitoba are seeking a PhD student researcher to study interactions between plant roots and microbial inoculants using phenotypic screening, biochemical and physiological characterization, and functional genomic tools. The selected candidate will join a large multi- year, multi-institutional project, including academic and industry partners, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems by leveraging microbial inoculants to promote crop nutrient uptake.

This project requires us to meet performance and reporting deadlines, but the selected candidate will have some latitude to explore and develop their own ideas within the context of the project. There will be opportunities for collaboration within our groups and across our network, and to pursue professional development activities.

Applicant qualifications

• BSc or MSc in plant biology, microbiology, molecular biology, or a related discipline.

• Ability to work independently and as a member of a diverse team.

• Desire to learn and develop skills as scientist, writer, and communicator.

• Ability to perform experiments precisely and correctly according to laboratory protocols.

• Ability to manage time and efforts to ensure that the goals of their project and graduate program are being met.

• Ability to communicate freely and clearly with their supervisors and lab mentors with results, errors, delays, etc.

  Research and training

  The successful candidate will develop skills in a wide variety of areas including building and maintaining microbial inoculant collections, performing and analyzing high throughput plant phenotyping screens, and undertaking detailed physiological and molecular analyses of plant- inoculant interactions. The student will learn skills in hypothesis development, experimental design, and data analysis in R, and will be expected to cultivate skills in project management and within-team communication, scientific writing, and oral presentations. We will provide support for development in these areas. All research personnel will be required to participate in team meetings, to share data and progress, and to take ownership of their research projects. Our labs are diverse and collaborative workplaces that are committed to building an environment of integrity and respect where science and scientists can flourish.

  Application Process and Funding

  Review of applications will begin on June 12th, and position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been identified. Interested applicants should send a letter stating their interest in this position, a complete CV, academic transcripts, and contact information for three references to matthew.bakker@umanitoba.ca AND olivia.wilkins@umanitoba.ca. Only shortlisted candidates will receive follow up communication.

Download the full job posting here

The Facility Manager manages the Analytical Core Laboratory (ACL), which is a core facility within the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.  It is a stand-alone, state-of-the-art analytical laboratory housing research equipment worth over $5 Million. The Analytical Core Laboratory provides services to a large number of scientists in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Michael Smith Laboratory, and other scientists at UBC, as well as other institutions and industry partners.  Click here to view the job posting: https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcstaffjobs/job/UBC-Vancouver-Campus/Facility-Manager--LFS-Analytical-Core-Laboratory_JR12694. The closing date for this job posting is 11:59 pm on Wednesday, May 31^st.  We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Wilkins Lab

Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Plant Systems Biology Group (www.oliviawilkinslab.com)

The MSc student will join a multi-year (2023-2026), multi-institutional project funded through the NSERC-FRQNT NOVA grants program. The interdisciplinary project includes a team of early career researchers and trainees working together to study the role of postranslational modifications in gene regulation.

Download the full opportunity posting here.

Start Date: September 1, 2023 or January 1, 2024

Details for formal applications (post-selectioon by Wilkins Lab)

Application details: hUps://umanitoba.ca/explore/programs-of-study/biological-sciences-msc UM deadlines for admission are as follows:

• Canadian and US applicants
  o September start – June 1st to January start – October 1st

• International applicants
  o January start – July 1st

The Scarpella lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta is seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. student with a strong interest in plant development. The selected student will start graduate school on January 1, 2024, and will combine molecular genetics and live imaging to understand the mechanisms controlling vein formation in the Arabidopsis leaf. A research-based M.Sc. degree is preferred but not required.

If you wish to be considered, please send the following material as a single PDF file to enrico.scarpella@ualberta.ca:

• A cover letter explaining: your motivation to pursue the project above; how you meet the department’s minimum academic requirement (please see here and here); and how you meet the department’s minimum English language requirement (please see here and here).

• Your CV, including unofficial transcripts.

• Contact information for two referees.

  Please write “Ph.D. Student Position in Plant Developmental Biology” in the subject line. Please send the material above by May 22, 2023. Women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

  Short-listed candidates will be interviewed in the first and second week of June 2023, and the selected candidate will be asked to apply to the department (deadline of application: July 31, 2023).

  For information on graduate studies in the department, including financial information, please see here, here, and here.

Job posting can also be downloaded here

Department of Plant Science | McGill University, Macdonald Campus Montreal, QC, Canada

PROJECT: Plant-derived compounds to enhance pesticide efficacy

Insect (arthropod) herbivory has damaging consequences on Canadian agriculture, reducing yield and quality. Pre-harvest losses due to arthropod pests are estimated at 13-16%, rising during outbreaks. Climate change is exacerbating these conditions, expanding the reach and intensity of current and novel pests. The conventional approach uses overwhelming amounts of pesticides as a broad and blunt tool to eliminate threats to agriculture. We seek inspiration from plants for compounds that enhance pesticide efficacy or reduce insect detoxification.

THE POSITION

Start date: June 5th or July 3rd
Hours: 40 hrs/week
Duration: 12 months; renewable, depending on performance for another 12 months; beyond 2 yrs, pending funding availability
Primary lab: Dastmalchi (https://www.dastmalchilab.com/)
Collaboration: Thibodeux lab (https://www.thibodeauxlab.com)

JOB DESCRIPTION

The postdoctoral fellow will join our team to conduct in-depth bioinformatics, protein expression and purification, enzyme assays, and large-scale natural product screening. They will begin by mining transcriptomic datasets of relevant pests and benign insects, selecting candidates for gene synthesis. Next, they will clone the synthesized genes into expression vectors and conduct protein expression and purification using standard Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. These candidates will be assayed for activity with known substrates. Subsequently, they will conduct large-scale high-throughput screening of plant NP libraries to identify novel, synergist, or other impacts. Compounds of interest will be directly assayed in ligand-receptor studies using mass spectrometry for high-resolution protein structure analysis.

The knowledge generated will be used in plant-insect studies, new pesticide cocktail creation, nanotechnology delivery systems, and protein-dynamics studies. The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with our collaborators Dr. Jacquie Bede (Plant Science, McGill) and Dr. Chris Thibodeaux (Chemistry, McGill). Primarily, they will work with the Thibodeaux lab for protein analysis and structural biology aspects of the work.

Day-to-day, the postdoctoral fellow will manage the project, including experimental design, planning, and execution. They will collect and analyze data, discussing their findings with the supervisor, Dr. Dastmalchi. They are also expected to mentor and train junior HQP in the lab. In particular, the postdoctoral fellow will collaborate closely with 2 graduate students (PhD and MSc) on this project. They will assist in the writing and submission of manuscripts related to the project. The postdoctoral fellow will work independently and under the supervision of Dr. Dastmalchi. Ownership of the project, aptitude for implementation, and a collaborative mentality are key success determinants.

THE LAB

The Dastmalchi lab is in the Department of Plant Science at the Macdonald campus. We have many valuable facilities, including a Multi-Scale Imaging Facility, a Research Greenhouse, growth chambers at the Phytorium, and a fleet of chemical analytical instruments at the Macdonald Mass Spectrometry Platform. We are also situated on the largest green space on the island of Montreal and agricultural fields designed for research. Part of the work for this project will be conducted downtown, in the lab of Dr. Chris Thibodeaux in the Department of Chemistry, using their state-of-the-art mass spectrometry platform.

Researchers in the Dastmalchi lab will lead original research projects and be expected to make substantial and novel contributions to science through publications and presentations. The postdoctoral fellow will have biweekly meetings with Dr. Dastmalchi. They will also participate in joint monthly lab meetings with our collaborators (Bede and Thibodeaux) on this project and an annual retreat to share findings, techniques, and expert analysis.

ELIGIBILITY

Required:

• Ph.D. (fully awarded) in one of the following disciplines: Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or Chemistry

• Expertise in enzymology: protein expression and purification, enzyme assays, and enzyme kinetics

• Expertise in bioinformatics: gene mining, genomics, transcriptomics, co-expression studies

• Excellent skills in programming languages and statistics software including, but not limited to R and

  data visualization

• Proven publication record: relevant first-author publications in respected peer-reviewed journals

• Good communication and collaboration skills

  Preferred:

• Expertise in chemical analytics and small molecule quantification: expertise in HPLC, LC-MS, and GC-MS

• Understanding of plant specialized metabolism: plant biochemistry, gene discovery, and functional genomics

• Good track record of conference presentations

• Aptitude for teaching and training

  HOW TO APPLY

  Send your applications to mehran.dastmalchi@mcgill.ca
  In your email subject line, please write (to help me sort your emails): “Dastmalchi Lab Postdoctoral Position”

  Application package:

• Full CV

• Research statement (expertise and interests – specific to my lab and the posting) 1-page max.

• Contact details for 3 referees

  Application deadline: May 15th
  Interviews will begin on May 22nd; the chosen postdoctoral fellow will begin the position in June or July 2023.

Position Title / Rank: Assistant Professor in Bean Breeding and Computational Biology

Department: Plant Agriculture

Date Posted: March 29, 2023

Deadline: June 1, 2023 or until a suitable candidate is found

Please reference AD #23-17

Position Description:

The Department of Plant Agriculture, Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position in Plant Breeding, at the Assistant Professor level. This position is located at the Guelph campus and requires a PhD in Plant Breeding, Plant Genetics, or closely related field.

The successful candidate will demonstrate teaching excellence in plant genetics and plant breeding, including quantitative genetics and genomics, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. They will supervise MSc and PhD students in their thesis research, and also contribute to instruction in a course-based Masters program in Plant Agriculture. The chosen candidate will manage an existing, successful breeding program developing commercially viable edible bean cultivars adapted to the Ontario production environment, and will develop and lead a comprehensive, externally funded research program.

The successful candidate will join a world-class, collaborative faculty in the Department of Plant Agriculture, with members conducting cutting-edge research in the disciplines of plant breeding and genetics, weed science, plant pathology, soil science, agronomy, plant physiology, plant conservation, and plant-based bioproducts. Salary is negotiable and commensurate with qualifications. The department will provide competitive research start-up funds; other research support and subsidized access to research facilities is available through the Research Alliance Agreement between the University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Department of Plant Agriculture is Canada’s largest and most diverse applied plant biology department in Canada and has recognized strengths in a broad cross-section of plant sciences including agronomy, horticulture, breeding, molecular genetics, genomics, controlled environment systems, plant physiology, post-harvest physiology, plant pathology, and plant-based bioproducts. The Department currently has 30 faculty members and employs 100 staff and more than 100 graduate students. Faculty within the Department have access to modern laboratory, growth room and greenhouse facilities, as well as fourteen well-equipped research stations across the province. As part of the Ontario Agricultural College, Plant Agriculture has a long history of achievement in serving the agriculture and agri-food industries within Ontario and beyond.

The University of Guelph is the third largest employer in Guelph, a city of approximately 130,000 people, located about an hour drive west of Toronto, Ontario. University of Guelph is a top-ranked comprehensive university in Canada with an enrolment of over 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across over 40 academic units. The University is known for its commitment to student learning, innovative research, and collaboration with world-class partners. It is a unique place, with transformative research and teaching and a distinctive campus culture. People who learn and work here are shaped and inspired by a shared purpose: To Improve Life. Reflecting that shared purpose in every experience connected to our university positions us to create positive change, here and around the world. Our university community shares a profound sense of social responsibility, a drive for international development, and an obligation to address global issues.

Application Process

Assessment of applications will begin on June 1, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications should consist of the following materials in a single PDF file:

1. Letter of interest
2. Teaching philosophy statement (1 page)
3. Research interests statement: short- and long-term (1 Page)
4. Curriculum vitae
5. EDI Statement: Describe the strategies you will use to foster inclusion and support a diverse community in your research program and classrooms (300 word maximum)
6. References: Contact information for three (3)

Email applications to:

Dr. Hugh Earl, Chair
c/o Jen Kingswell, Chair's Administrative Assistant
Department of Plant Agriculture
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Email: applypag@uoguelph.ca 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University recognizes that applicants may have had obligations outside of work that have negatively impacted their record of achievements (e.g., parental, elder care, and/or medical). You are not required to disclose these obligations in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these obligations do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position.

The University of Guelph resides on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and we offer our respect to our Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Métis neighbours as we strive to strengthen our relationships with them.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion  (https://uoguel.ph/ox2p9) is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

If you require a medical accommodation during the recruitment or selection process, please contact Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674.

Job Title: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Plant Sciences
Status: 3 year Term, May 1, 2023 – April 30, 2026.
Employment Group: Post-Doctoral Fellows - PSAC Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0 Salary Information: $45,000/year plus benefits

Primary Purpose: To work as a team member on the project, “Adapting Wheat to Stressful Environments: Identifying Key Transpiration Efficiency Components Reducing Day-Time Water Loss and Heat Stress Linked to Yield”. Specifically, to be the lead researcher to address Objective #2 within the project “To profile AQP PIP1, PIP2 protein differences (abundance, phosphorylation) among wheat genotypes in leaf and root tissue during day vs night time”.

Nature of Work: The primary responsibilities of the Postdoctoral Fellow is to plan the experiments to address Objective #2 above, conduct the research, statistically analyze the data, write the annual report in time to meet the yearly deadlines and submit publications in peer reviewed journals based on this work. Because of the nature of the work, research may extend after hours into evenings and weekends on some occasions to permit timely sampling and/or plant care.

Typical Duties or Accountabilities: The candidate will work independently but also be an important member of a larger team to successfully plan and perform experiments, assist other members as needed, write the annual report to meet deadlines. The candidate will be a part of an active team of graduate students, Professional Research Associates, exchanging ideas and problem solving. Before the three year term, the candidate should have submitted at least one peer reviewed publication based on their work on this project. The candidate will have good communication skills, make presentations if needed and update the PI, Dr. Karen Tanino on a regular basis.

Education: The candidate must hold a PhD from a valid academic institution in the area of Plant Biology and meet the minimum TOEFL or IELTS standards of the Department of Plant Sciences.

Experience: Ideally the candidate will have experience in conducting and analyzing proteomics data. The candidate must have demonstrated ability to publish novel work in higher impact, peer reviewed journals in a related field to the needs of this project.

Skills: The candidate shall possess effective interpersonal skills, have demonstrated ability to work in a diversified group, be organized to multi-task, have sound knowledge and have published in the area of plant abiotic stress physiology.

To Apply: Applications will be sent to karen.tanino@usask.ca and must include a cover letter, a statement addressing qualifications, a resume with references and publications, and be submitted as a single PDF document. Applications will be accepted until May 1 or until the position is filled. The statement addressing qualifications must address each and every one of the qualifications listed in the above sections on education, experience and skills. The use of subtitles is strongly recommended. We also strongly encourage providing specific examples of actions or behaviors to demonstrate experience or skill. Applications that fail to provide all of the information required will be considered incomplete and will not be assessed. The University believes equity, diversity, and inclusion strengthen the community and enhance excellence, innovation and creativity. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments.

We are seeking a motivated candidate/s to join our team to study fruit morphodynamics in Arabidopsis (https://kierzkowski-lab.com/). This project will be held in collaboration with Dr. Shelley Hepworth (Carleton University) and Dr. Anne-Lise Routier (University of Montreal).

We are interested in highly motivated candidates with background in plant biology. Experience in microscopy and molecular biology are assets. The applicant should have good interpersonal skills and be able to work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. Diversity is considered a strength within the lab and all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for this position.

The Kierzkowski lab is a part of the Plant Science Research Institute at the University of Montreal, Canada. The Institute is equipped with all core facilities necessary for this project including confocal microscopy , image analysis platform, molecular labs, and a plant cultivation facility. The bilingual city of Montreal is a vibrant university center and cultural capital of Quebec.

Interested applicants should send a CV, a motivation letter (one page maximum - clearly specifying your scientific interest), as well as names and contact of 2 referees to daniel.kierzkowski@umontreal.ca

Deadline for applications: April 30th, 2023. ADVERTISEMENT_DANIEL_KIERZKOWSKI_2023.pdf

Help bring research to life and drive your career forward with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada’s largest research and technology organization. We are looking for a Research Officer (RO) in Crop Phytobiome Systems to support our Aquatic Crop and Resource Development Research Center. This person would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity. To support the goals of the NRC and ACRD Research Centre, the RO will establish an international calibre research program focused on deciphering the network of phytobiome interactions occurring in Canada’s agricultural production systems that affect overall crop productivity and quality. Specifically, the RO’s research should focus on utilizing a systems approach to integrate plants, microbes, soils, nutrients, and climate through:

• ·       Discoveries of phytobiome composition and dynamics;
• ·       Development of integrated models that would summarily predict phytobiome interactions and estimate crop production outputs;
• ·       Discovery of beneficial crop interactions that would promote climate and biotic resilience and optimize nutrient efficiency and utilization; 
• ·       Supporting industry through service offerings, testing and research services.

The RO would be expected to translate discoveries into powerful new tools for crop and agroecosystem management in support of the Canadian agriculture sector. The RO would work in a multi-disciplinary team environment with researchers and technical experts at NRC and would form collaborative research activities within Canada and internationally. It is expected that the RO will provide meaningful contributions to the ACRD strategic Research Centre’s goal, providing solutions that enhance and increase the sustainability and long –term health of Canada’s agricultural production systems encompassing value added products related to food and feed.

To apply, view the full posting with education and experience requirements at:

English: https://recruitment-recrutement.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/job/Saskatoon-Research-Officer%2C-Crop-Phytobiome-Systems-SK/568581617/

French: https://recruitment-recrutement.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/job/Saskatoon-Agent-ou-Agente-de-recherches%2C-syst%C3%A8mes-phytobiomiques-des-cultures-SK/568581717/

Closing Date: 27 March 2023—11:59 p.m. Eastern Time