{"id":3180763,"url":"https://alion.io/job/donald-danforth-plant-science-center-postdoctoral-associate-duguma-lab","title":"Postdoctoral Associate - Duguma Lab","company":{"id":1868259,"name":"Donald Danforth Plant Science Center","domain":"danforthcenter.org","url":"https://alion.io/company/danforthcenter","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Paycom","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Saint Louis, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":61000,"max_usd":169000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":3270},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"CRISPR","optional":false},{"name":"PCR","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-23T21:26:05Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-23","last_verified_at":"2026-10-28T13:12:06Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":5,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":5},"description":"The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate to join the Optimum Teff project, focused on improving teff (Eragrostis tef) productivity through genome editing and trait stacking approaches. The project aims to develop improved teff varieties with reduced lodging, grain shattering, and enhanced yield potential.\nThe successful candidate will conduct research involving gene construct development, CRISPR-based genome editing, molecular and phenotypic characterization of edited plants, and data analysis. The position requires strong organizational skills and the ability to conduct research independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.\nThe position is part of the Optimum Teff research project at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, based in St. Louis, Missouri, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). The successful candidate will work in the Duguma Lab and work closely with national and international project collaborators.\nResponsibilities:\nDesign and develop gene-editing constructs, including guide RNA design and vector assembly.\nPerform CRISPR-based genome editing and molecular characterization of edited plants.\nConduct phenotypic evaluation of edited plants under greenhouse and field conditions.\nApply basic bioinformatics tools for sequence analysis, gene identification, and editing validation.\nOrganize, analyze, and maintain experimental data and research records.\nPrepare regular research progress reports, presentations, and scientific manuscripts.\nIndependently plan and execute experiments and communicate results to supervisors and project collaborators.\nRequired knowledge, skills, and abilities:\nDemonstrated experience in molecular biology, including cloning, vector construction, and PCR-based analyses.\nExperience or working knowledge of CRISPR/Cas genome-editing technologies.\nBasic bioinformatics skills, including sequence analysis and guide RNA design.\nStrong organizational, data management, analytical, and communication skills.\nAbility to conduct research independently with minimal supervision and work effectively in a collaborative environment.\nLive the Danforth Center values: Collaboration, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Integrity & Respect, Environmental Sustainability, and Stewardship \nQualifications\nQualifications:\nPhD in Plant Molecular Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Genetics, Plant Biology, or a closely related field.\nPreferred experience with plant genome editing, genetic transformation, and molecular characterization of edited plants; phenotyping and trait evaluation in growth chamber, greenhouse, or field settings; and work with cereal crops or other monocot species.\nScientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.\nSubmission Instructions:\nPlease include a 1-2-page cover letter describing academic background, research experience, research interest, and career goals\nCV\nContact information for 3 professional references","description_format":"text","description_chars":2991,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Agricultural Biotechnology","Research Institutes"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-23T21:26:05Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":4,"expected_fill_days":25,"reasons":["conf:3","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-28T05:59:10Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/donald-danforth-plant-science-center-postdoctoral-associate-duguma-lab","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/donald-danforth-plant-science-center-postdoctoral-associate-duguma-lab.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-29T01:41:06Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2557,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-30T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1868259},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1868259"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fdonald-danforth-plant-science-center-postdoctoral-associate-duguma-lab"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fdonald-danforth-plant-science-center-postdoctoral-associate-duguma-lab"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fdonald-danforth-plant-science-center-postdoctoral-associate-duguma-lab"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/donald-danforth-plant-science-center-postdoctoral-associate-duguma-lab\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fdonald-danforth-plant-science-center-postdoctoral-associate-duguma-lab"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3180763}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"danforthcenter.org","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3180763},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); 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