Postdoctoral Scholar - Insect Molecular Biology - ESPM (Organisms & the Environment) - Tsutsui Lab

The Department of ESPM, Division of Organisms & the Environment at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for a Post-doctoral Employee in the Tsutsui Lab in the area of Insect RNA Biology. Research in the Tsutsui lab focuses on the behavior, genetics, and chemical ecology of invasive ants. The Post-doctoral Employee hired for this position will collaborate with the PI and other lab members on the development and scaling of RNA interference (RNAi) for the control and eradication of invasive ants.

Responsibilities:

This Post-doctoral employee will optimize existing approaches and formulations for RNAi-mediated gene silencing in ants. In addition, the Post-doctoral employee will screen candidate genes to identify new targets and develop expression systems to scale up dsRNA production. This research will involve both wet lab molecular biology and lab experiments with living insect colonies. The Post-doctoral employee will perform data analysis, collaborate with other members of the research team (both at UC Berkeley and partner institutions), mentor graduate and undergraduate students, prepare figures for publication and presentations, present research findings at conferences, and work with the PI and colleagues to write and submit manuscripts for publication. The position requires detailed recordkeeping of experiments performed, conclusions made, and communication of results orally and through lab notebook records.

Ph.D. or equivalent international degree, or enrollment in a Ph.D. (or equivalent international) program.

Ph.D. (or equivalent international degree) required by the appointment start date.

No more than three years of post-degree research experience by the start date.

Excellent writing and communication skills. A record of publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Demonstrated expertise in genetics, genomics, molecular and/or cell biology. Previous experience in RNA biology preferred, particularly with RNA interference (RNAi). Expertise with bacterial or yeast expression systems desirable. Previous research using insect model systems is desirable.

• 3 required (contact information only)

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