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Researchers in the Biology Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory seek to unravel and fully describe the complexities of biological systems from how plants make oils and other products to the role of proteins in disease. Our work helps to develop and make use of the tools and techniques of biochemistry, molecular genetics, structural biology, cell biology, and bioimaging. We also leverage the unique capabilities of Brookhaven’s National Synchrotron Light Source-II, Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure (LBMS) cryo-EM facility, and Center for Functional Nanomaterials, major research facilities open to scientists from around the world. Our research makes important contributions to fulfilling the missions of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Sciences and the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research. In addition, together with the Collider-Accelerator Department, the Biology Department manages the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory at Brookhaven, which is used by radiobiologists and physicists to study the effects of space radiation on both living and non-living systems.

The position is to understand the biochemistry and cell biology of factors and processes that facilitate triacylglycerol (oil) accumulation in plant vegetative tissues. It is supported by the Center for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Innovation DOE Bioenergy Center headed by the University of Illinois. We aim to optimize TAG accumulation in vegetative rather than seed tissues because they comprise the bulk of the plant’s biomass, and under normal growth conditions accumulate TAG at less than 0.1% of the dry weight of the biomass. In contrast, seeds of oilcrops are a minor portion of the biomass weight that contain between 25 and 50% TAG (DW), leaving little headroom for improvement and their seeds. The selected candidate will investigate factors hypothesized to be associated with oil accumulation, or combinations with factors known to influence its accumulation. The success of this work will create a TAG feedstock that will contribute to the emerging bioeconomy, by using plants as factories to create net-zero emission feedstocks for the production of biofuels and bioproducts as alternatives to fossil fuels. 

The work will be performed in the Biology department at BNL under the supervision of John Shanklin. We have a fully equipped biochemistry laboratory, and as appropriate, the project will take advantage of advanced Brookhaven National Laboratory advanced facilities including cryo-EM and cryo-FIB, and the structure and imaging facilities at the National Synchrotron Light Source-II Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and confocal light microscopy and live-cell imaging at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials. This position has a high level of interaction with an international and multicultural scientific community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Clone and express candidate genes.

Use transient and stable plant gene transformation.

Genotype transformants and perform analysis to converge transgene expression.

Perform analytical lipid analyses to determine the consequences of various genetic manipulations of metabolism. Analyze the distribution of transgene expression and metabolic perturbations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ph.D. in plant biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, plant genetics, or a related field

Proven abilities to disseminate research through publication in peer-reviewed journals

Clear and concise oral and written communication and presentation skills.

Self-motivated and able to work both independently and as a team player.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Experience in plant lipid metabolism.

Experience in stable transformation of genes or gene stacks.

Experience in transient gene expression. 

Experience in the use of gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry.

Experience in confocal microscopy and/or laser capture microdissection.

Experience in RNA seq.

OTHER INFORMATION: 

Review of applications begins immediately. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Initial 1-year appointment subject to annual renewal contingent on performance and funding. Please contact John Shanklin (