Research Associate-Fixed Term

Position Summary

A research associate (postdoctoral position) is available in the Evans Lab at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station in soil microbial ecology. The postdoc would work on a USDA-funded grant examining effects of conservation zones (zones of native prairie or perennial grasses embedded in agricultural lands) on ecosystem services in the US Midwest. Our team of collaborators is examining how these perennial areas affect carbon sequestration, nematode communities, pollinators, and microbial communities, at local and regional scales, and working closely with stakeholders to implement and test zones on managed lands.

The successful candidate would synthesize patterns of shifts in microbial communities and microbial function with prairie/perennial restoration in existing studies across the Midwest, with the goal of predicting how shifts in Midwest land use (including widespread conservation zone implementation) might improve or alter microbial biodiversity and services. Thus experience working with sequencing pipelines (bioinformatics and statistical analysis), public sequencing databases, and meta-analysis are desired and should be highlighted in a cover letter, as should any experience or interest in learning spatial biogeographical microbial modeling, or experience probing microbial function.

Start date: The postdoctoral appointment is for one year with expected reappointment to two years. Ideal start date will be between September 2025 and January 2026.

Postdoc development: KBS and the Evans Lab are committed to postdoctoral research career development. The postdoc will have professional development opportunities in the form mentoring, teaching, grant writing, public communication and others, while working on highly collaborative research projects to meet the postdoc’s defined career goals.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Microbial ecology, ecosystem ecology, land use change

Minimum Requirements

Doctorate in Microbiology, Ecology, Genetics, Molecular Ecology or related field.

Desired Qualifications

Desired Qualification include:

• Knowledge of one or more of the following: Mining metagenomic or genetic profiling sequences from existing databases (e.g. ITS data from NCBI), knowledge of perennial systems, switchgrass or prairie, spatial modeling of microbial biogeography
• Favorable skills are knowledge of land use change and ecosystem services, experience with isotope tracer studies or other methods for probing microbial function and carbon stabilization

Required Application Materials

1) cover letter (2 page max) that includes: research accomplishments; experience and demonstration of skills relevant to the project (see Qualifications); your interest in this project; and leadership experience

2) a CV, and

3) contact information (name, position, phone, email) for three references

Review of Applications Begins On

08/15/2025

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

kbs.msu.edu

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.