Junior/Assistant Specialist - Koskella Lab - Department of Integrative Biology

The Koskella lab in the department of Integrative Biology focuses primarily on how plant-microbiome, plant-pathogen, and bacteria-phage interactions occur, both as model systems for understanding fundamental principles in disease ecology and with the aim of leveraging these findings for design of novel disease management strategies. The lab integrates ecological and evolutionary thinking with cutting-edge microbiological and molecular approaches to gain insight to microbiome establishment and function, within-microbiome interactions, and the role that microbiota and phages play in shaping disease.

This position will assist with completion of a funded project to examine the effect of phages on bacterial evolution across a panel of plant pathogens, and how selection by phages might be leveraged to reduce disease burden. The Specialist will be based in the Koskella Lab and will lead a series of experiments in which phage particles are grown in varying bacterial community backgrounds (including TnSeq barcoded bacterial libraries) in order to determine how this ecological complexity impacts phage morphology (using microscopy), genomic evolution, and/or fitness on hosts. The researcher will work on bacteria and phages in the lab, but also do occasional sampling of phages in the field for screening of novel types and work in the greenhouse for in planta experiments.

Other responsibilities include:

Co-culturing bacteria and phages in a sterile setting, preparing phage cultures for electron microscopy, analyzing images, and running experiments to measure bacterial fitness.

Inoculating plants with plant pathogenic bacteria and/or phages and monitoring bacterial growth, phage replication, and disease symptoms.

Running DNA exractions, PCR reactions, and gel electrophoresis as well as the opportunity for expanded molecular work.

General lab maintenance tasks, such as autoclaving waste, filling pipette tip boxes, and making growth media.

Bachelor's degree or enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program, or equivalent international degree.

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent international degree.

Previous microbiological experience especially familiarity with sterile technique, and bacterial and/or virus cultivation.

Strong organizational abilities.

Attention to details.

• 3 required (contact information only)

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