What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purpose-grown Energy Crop Physiologist – Research Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, Spring 2025 position at University of Tennessee?
The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) seeks highly qualified research faculty candidates to advance the knowledge and application of Purpose Grown Energy Crops Physiology, with an emphasis on perennial herbaceous and woody crops.
To increase the circularity of the harvested resources, biomass must be produced in a sustainable manner with minimal inputs (., fertilizers, pesticides, water). To help reach these sustainability goals, plant varieties grown need to be water and nutrient-use-efficient and resistant to pests and environmental challenges while achieving high biomass yields, optimal fiber and chemistry attributes, net positive carbon sequestration, and improved soil health. Through understanding crop physiology, along with conventional and novel biotechnological approaches, we see the successful candidate in this position to advance Circular Bioeconomy Systems (CBS).
This position will be associated with UT-ORII’s CBS Convergent Research Initiative (CRI), whose mission is to address current and future challenges in the biological science of purpose purpose-grown energy crop production. The CBS CRI will include ~20 member investigators from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). This faculty appointment position will be with UT-ORII at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
CBS research faculty will collaborate on laboratory experiments and reporting, proposal preparation and submission, provide support for existing research projects, and mentor students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Four anchor investigators of the project will provide mentoring and necessary infrastructure to the hire. Applicants will be considered at all faculty ranks.
Required :
- in Plant Biology, Physiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology or other related discipline.
- Familiarity with plant biotechnology, physiology, photosynthesis, metabolic engineering, breeding, and whole plant phenotyping of dedicated energy crops such as giant miscanthus, switchgrass, hybrid poplar, willows, or bioenergy oil seed crops.
- Research experience in areas that support UT-ORII’s Circular Bioeconomy Systems mission, including, but not limited to : Genetics and plant breedingPlant physiologyMetabolic EngineeringPlant-microbe interactionsAgroecology
- An excellent track record in publications.
- A clear path to independence as a researcher is desired, though an ‘on-ramp’ through collaboration with more senior investigators is also encouraged.
- Strong writing and communication skills, along with a demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative team and a highly dynamic scientific environment.
- This position requires the ability to be granted a site-access badge for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Preferred :
Additional Information
