Vilgalys Mycology Lab – Duke University

Check out the program and highlights from last week’s MASMC&mf conference*.

*MASMC&mf = Middle Atlantic States Mycology Conference (and morel foray)

We have an opening for a part time research assistant to help with several projects on interactions between plants (roots), fungi, and bacteria.  We are using molecular-based methods to study interactions between symbiotic fungi with with native tree species (pines, oaks, and cottonwoods).  Duties include assisting with fieldwork (planting, watering, harvesting) and laboratory experiments (culturing, DNA sequencing).  Training will be provided.  If you are interested in growing and knowing plants and fungi, then we are interested in you.  We are looking for a reliable person able to work up to 20 hrs per week.  The position is available for summer, and may be extended to include the academic year.  More information about the lab and our research is at http://sites.duke.edu/vilgalyslab/

Application: email a brief statement of interest (mentioning relevant skills/background), and a 1 page vitae in (pdf format preferred) plus names of 2 references to Rytas Vilgalys, fungi@duke.edu. Interviews will begin immediately until the position is filled.

Contact: Rytas Vilgalys (Biology Department), fungi@duke.edu

Many excellent presentations and great weather at this year’s Fungal Genetics Meetings (March 17-22, 2015).  Here’s a link to the program and abstracts,  and a  link to the #fungal15 twitter feed.  The meetings were well-attended by current and former Duke mycologists.  Some of my highlights included
-opening plenary session talk by Duke’s Nick Buchler on evolution of cell cycle regulation in fungi
-Fungal Biodiversity session chaired by Georgiana May and Linda Kohn, featuring talks by members of the Lutzoni lab
-Contributed session on Environmental Transcriptomics chaired by Cheryl Kuske and myself, and featuring talks by Sunny Liou and Greg Bonito
-sneaking out with the lab group to visit Point Lobos State Park

We participated last weekend in the inaugural meeting for our new GoLife program to investigate the group formerly known as “Zygomycetes”.  Check out the group’s home age at Zygolife.org.  Phylogenetic relationships among the “zygos” were previously investigated by the AFTOL group (aftol.org) using up to 6 genes (White et al., 2006; James et al., 2006).   Genome sequencing now makes it possible to reassess the major radiations using hundreds of loci.

We are seeking to employ a mycologist at our Edinburgh Garden who is or will become an international scientific leader. The successful applicant’s research will explore fungal diversity (e.g. systematics, ecology, evolutionary biology) to address societal challenges. As examples, these challenges may include but are not restricted to (i) the role of fungal diversity in maintaining ecosystem function and services, (ii) best practice in managing fungal disease threats to native (non-crop) ecosystems, and/or (iii) providing tools to promote human understanding of harmful and useful fungal diversity.

We are particularly interested in applicants who can demonstrate scientific excellence that is of international importance, and is also relevant to conservation policy in Scotland.

Applicants must be educated to PhD level (with PhD already obtained or about to be obtained). You should be an excellent researcher with a proven track record appropriate for your career stage, and have strong scientific writing ability. You’ll also need to be an effective communicator with the ability to clearly articulate the relevance of your research to both specialist and non-specialist audiences, and good interpersonal skills will be essential to develop and maintain effective relationships with colleagues.

A full job description and person specification can be downloaded from this page.  Ideally we see the postholder working on a full-time basis, but we would consider applications from exceptional candidates looking to work part-time.

Salary range £25,947-£30,442 with appointment dependent on experience

Further details of RBGE’s science can be obtained from www.rbge.org.uk/science. Informal enquiries or questions with regards to this post can be directed to Dr Chris Ellis, Head of Cryptogamic Plants and Fungi (c.ellis@rbge.org.uk).

Interested applicants should send a CV and covering letter, outlining the skills and experience you could bring to the post, as well as a completed equal opportunities form, torecruitment@rbge.org.uk by 5pm GMT on Fri. 29^th August 2014.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a recognised Centre of Excellence in plant and fungal diversity. Located in a UNESCO World Heritage city famed for its scientific innovation and cultural interest, the RBGE operates across a full range of activities from taxonomic monography to biodiversity genomics to ecosystem function and services.