Academic Job Description

The School of Integrative Plant Science

Horticulture Section - SIPS

Postdoctoral Associate

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Position Function

We are recruiting an experienced horticulturalist, plant scientist, bioinformatician, and/or biochemist to study the genetic and phenotypic diversity of hard cider apples and using bioinformatic, biochemical, and genomic approaches. The position is based in the Horticulture Section, School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The individual will study the unique quality attributes of hard cider apples and curate a database to manage and analyze phenotypic and genotypic data on cider germplasm collected over the past eight years. The database is part of the BreedBase digital ecosystem developed by the Mueller Lab at the Boyce Thompson Institute. See: https://breedbase.org/ and https://solgenomics.net/ . The post-doc will collaborate with the BreedBase development team to advance this project. Additional work might explore the genetic controls of apple polyphenols and other important phenotypic traits for hard cider quality. Examples of related research projects are listed at the Peck Lab and Cornell Hard Cider websites: https://hort.cals.cornell.edu/people/gregory-peck & http://hardcider.cals.cornell.edu. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute research-based information for the emerging cider industry.

Anticipated Division of Time

Ø 40% Data management and analyses

Ø 40% Developing independent research experiments related to cider apple germplasm

Ø 15% Manuscript preparation and submission

Ø 5% Professional development

Requirements

A Ph.D. in Horticulture, Plant Science, Plant Biochemistry, Food Science, or a closely related field is required. Successful candidates must have a PhD degree in the agricultural sciences, bioinformatics, and describe how their previous research experience qualifies them for this position. Demonstrable experience with bioinformatics and/or data management. Additional experience with separation chemistry using HPLC/UPLC and/or experience with molecular techniques, such as microsatellites, GBS, GWAS, and RNA-seq is highly desirable. The research will provide extensive experience in working with perennial fruit crops and the hard cider industry. Applicants should have excellent written and verbal communication skills and a desire to publish in peer reviewed journals. This position allows for the interaction with researchers at Cornell, the Boyce Thompson Institute, the USDA-ARS, and at other institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

Supervision Exercised

Some supervision of graduate and/or undergraduate students will likely be involved.

Terms

The position is available starting September 1, 2024 and will remain open until filled. This is a 12-month appointment with the opportunity to extend the term based upon available work, performance and funding.

To learn about Cornell’s postdoctoral programs, visit: http://postdocs.cornell.edu.  

To apply:

Please apply via Academic Jobs Online (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/28040).

Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, contact information for three references, and a statement supporting diverse communities (this can be a stand-alone document (preferred) or the information can be embedded in other parts of the application materials) outlining how, through research, teaching, service. mentoring, extension, and/or outreach, the candidate has and will contribute to support Cornell’s historical mission of “any person … any study,” via the website.

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

CALS hiring rate for this position is $61,008.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

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