We seek a Postdoctoral Scholar to join the newly established Cantó-Pastor lab in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University. This fully funded position is flexible in scope but centered on the development of new transcriptomic and microscopy tools to study the regulation of plant immunity and systemic resistance at a single cell level. The goal of this research is to answer questions related to the role of tissue-specific immune responses in hosting beneficial microbes, and the preparedness for pathogen attack that these interactions confer.

About us

The Cantó-Pastor lab is officially opening in October 2024. This research group is dedicated to understanding how plants let some beneficial soil microbes into their roots while keeping pathogens at bay. We focus primarily on the regulatory networks that influence plant immunity during plant-microbe interactions. We develop transcriptomics, single cell-omics, and microscopy methods to explore fundamental question in plant immunity and cell type-specific regulatory mechanisms. Relevant papers include Canto-Pastor et al. 2019 PNAS, Canto-Pastor et al. 2024 Nature Plants, and Kajala et al. 2021 Cell.

Position Summary

We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar with good communication and teamwork skills. This fully funded position offers the opportunity to develop new transcriptomics and microscopy tools for mapping plant-microbe interactions at single cell resolution in Arabidopsis and tomato. The successful candidate will apply these tools to address key question in the regulation of immunity in plants. They will also have the opportunity to attend workshops or courses aimed at advancing their existing analytical skills, mentor students, and to participate in the preparation and writing of manuscripts and grants.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants must hold a PhD. Degree (or equivalent) in plant sciences, molecular biology, omics, or related fields. Strong skills in plant sciences, molecular biology, microscopy and/or bioinformatics are essential, along with a passion for innovation and understanding plant-microbe interactions. Previous experience in plant pathology and/or single cell transcriptomics are a plus. We welcome applications from diverse backgrounds and encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Appreciation and respect for human diversity is a must.

Application Process

To apply, please email your CV, a cover letter outlining your research interests and future objectives, and the contact information for three references to [email protected]. The preferred starting date for this position is early 2025, but flexible. Screening of applications will begin in mid October 2024 and will continue until a suitable candidate is found. For more information, please contact Alex Canto-Pastor via email (same address as before) or X/Twitter (@acantopastor).

Photo by Richard Liu on Unsplash