Requisition Id 11878 

Overview: 

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Researcher to join our interdisciplinary team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and advance our understanding of the genetic basis of complex traits and gene regulation in multiple plant species.

The candidate will work with a diverse and talented team of biologists, computer scientists, and developers in a joint effort between the Computational and Predictive Biology  (https://www.ornl.gov/group/computation-and-predictive-biology) and Plant Systems Biology (https://www.ornl.gov/group/psb) Groups, and will have many opportunities to broaden their knowledge, develop collaborative networks and their own research. This position provides the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research with access to suitable high-performance computing resources and ORNL’s Leadership Class Supercomputer (https://www.olcf.ornl.gov/olcf-resources/).

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Conduct statistical genetics analyses, including genome wide association (GWAS), eQTL and eQTN mapping, to investigate the genetic regulation of gene expression in Populus trichocarpa.
• Develop and implement novel methodologies for the integration of genetic, genomic, and expression data to identify key genetic determinants of complex traits.
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, including biologists, and bioinformaticians, to design and execute computational analyses.
• Perform computational analyses using Python programming and relevant statistical packages to process and interpret large-scale genomics and transcriptomics datasets.
• Apply expertise in statistical genetics and bioinformatics to drive the development of research projects and contribute to the publication of high-impact scientific papers.
• Contribute to ongoing projects in the group and successfully define and develop their own projects.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in Genetics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field completed within the last 5 years
• Strong expertise in statistical genetics, including experience with eQTL and eQTN analysis.
• Proficiency in R and Python programming and relevant libraries for data manipulation and analysis.
• Knowledge of genomics and transcriptomics data analysis methods and tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in working with Populus trichocarpa genetics or related plant systems is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement computational analyses and contribute to data interpretation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively within a collaborative research environment, and to communicate in English to a scientific audience.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory 
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs

Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
• View Profile
• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

Benefits at ORNL:  

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.