Position Description

The Buckler/Romay Lab at Cornell University is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate to advance research on maize and grass molecular diversity using genomic large language models (AI). The goal is to design nitrogen-efficient maize varieties.

The Buckler/Romay Lab, in partnership with Cornell’s Institute for Genomic Diversity, employs functional genomics to dissect complex traits in grasses, cassava, and diverse crops. We leverage natural genomic diversity to pinpoint DNA and protein variants underlying quantitative traits, while integrating cutting-edge technologies to measure and interpret this diversity. Our research spans comparative genomics, chromatin architecture, gene expression, protein abundance, and metabolite profiling—combined with computational biology, machine learning, and advanced statistical methods.

Supported by the ARPA-E TEOSYNTE and CERCA projects, this position is part of a national effort to improve nitrogen use efficiency on farms by modifying genetic pathways that control root-soil-microbe interactions. The successful candidate will apply environmental association mapping and expression profiling across grasses and maize landraces to identify key genes and regulatory networks. These insights will then be integrated with genomic large language models to design optimized regulatory patterns for modern maize, which will be validated in collaboration with a nationwide team. Modeling indicates potential for more than a 50% improvement in agronomic nitrogen efficiency—translating into significant fertilizer savings and reductions in water and air pollution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct comparative genomics and environmental GWAS across grasses, maize landraces, and sorghum landraces to identify functional variation in candidate proteins and regulatory sequences associated with traits such as root architecture and soil characteristics.
• Nominate and help evaluate promoter regions and candidate genes to enhance nitrogen use efficiency.
• Apply machine learning models to classify molecular variants as functional and assess their impact on gene expression.
• Contribute to large-scale modeling of engineered traits to predict performance and optimize design.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in the field of genomics, evolution, population genetics, computational biology, biological informatics, quantitative genetics, or related fields.
•  Strong background in plant genomics, quantitative genetics, and bioinformatics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with genomic large-language models, plant transgenic design and evaluation, and nitrogen metabolism pathways.

The initial appointment is a 1-year term renewable contingent upon continued funding and successful performance. 

The anticipated hiring salary for this position is $62,232.

Why Cornell?

Benefits and rewards include:

• Comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, and more.

• Our leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.

• Impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Part-Time Study and Employee Degree Program, heavily discounted eCornell courses and certificate programs, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.