A graduate research assistantship (GRA)
leading to a Ph.D. in Plant
Molecular Biology is available in
Plant Science Department at South
Dakota State University (SDSU).
The GRA will work as part of a team on
NSF- and USDA/NIFA-funded
projects to clone and characterize naturally
occurring genes
responsible for seed dormancy from weedy rice. Seed
dormancy is a
key adaptive trait of both fundamental and agricultural
importance,
as it regulates the timing of germination for wild
species,
contributes to the persistence of weeds in
agro-ecosystems, and provides
cereal crops with the resistance to
pre-harvest sprouting. Several
quantitative trait loci (QTL)
associated with seed dormancy have been
isolated as single
Mendelian factors from weedy into cultivated rice and
some of them
map-based cloned in the Seed Molecular Biology
Laboratory. The GRA
will be involved in cloning additional seed dormancy
QTL and
characterizing QTL underlying genes for
molecular/physiological
pathways. Applicants must have received
basic training in plant
genetics, molecular biology, physiology,
or biochemistry. Experience in
QTL mapping/cloning or
RNA-seq/microarray analysis is preferred. The
flexibility to work
independently or as a team member and good
communication and
writing skills are required.
To apply, please send your C.V.,
a cover letter, and contact information
for three references to
Dr. Xingyou Gu by email
(Xingyou.gu@sdstate.edu).
Selection for the GRA position will be based
on basic and
preferred qualifications and working experience.