Postdoctoral Position for a Plant Biochemist in Systemsbiology of Maize/Rice C3-C4 leaf development and cell differentiation

Postdoctoral Position for a Plant Biochemist in Systems biology of
Maize/Rice C3-C4 leaf development and cell differentiation

van Wijk lab, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
[1]http://cbsu.tc.cornell.edu/vanwijk/

A postdoctoral position for a Plant Biochemist is available in the van
Wijk lab to contribute to a collaborative project sponsored by the
NSF-Genome program. This project concerns a cell-type specific
comparative analysis of C3 and C4 leaf development in Rice, Sorghum
and Maize. In leaves of such C4 grasses photosynthetic activities are
partitioned between two morphologically and biochemically distinct
bundle sheath (BS) and mesophyll (M) cells. The overall objectives are
to compare the quantitative and qualitative patterns of transcripts,
proteins, metabolic activities and anatomy at discrete stages and in
specific cell types in rice (C3), maize and sorghum (C4), and to
develop a model of the regulatory networks governing C4 anatomy and
function. These experimental datasets will be linked by new
informatics tools for comparative transcriptional and proteome
analysis, to provide the foundation for a systems biology approach to
understanding C4 biology.

The responsibilities of the postdoc include isolation of specific
subsets of leaf proteomes (e.g. Bundle strands) for proteome analysis,
as well as biological interpretation of large scale proteome (and
other) datasets. In particular, a strong effort is needed on
extracting biological conclusions and hypotheses from these large
scale datasets. Experience in plant protein biochemistry and a strong
interest in plant metabolism and systems biology is required. The
postdoc will work closely together with other team members, including
mass spectrometry specialists and bioinformaticians. Salary will be
commensurate with experience with generous employee benefits according
the Cornell Human Resource Office.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and continue until the
position is filled.
Application Instructions: Send your curriculum vitae, a statement of
research interests and career goals, and three letters of reference by
email to: [2][Only registered users see links. ] Klaas J. van Wijk, Associate Professor,
Dept of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; tel
+1-607-255-3664;

Relevant papers:
Majeran, W., and van Wijk, K.J. (2009) Cell-type specific
differentiation of chloroplasts in C4 plants. Trends in Plant Science
14(2):100-9
Majeran W., Zybailov B., Ytterberg A.J., Dunsmore J., Sun Q., and van
Wijk K.J. (2008) Consequences of C4 differentiation for chloroplast
membrane proteomes in maize mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. Mol
Cell Proteomics 2008 7: 1609-1638
Covshoff S., Majeran W., Liu P., Kolkman J.M., van Wijk K.J.and
Brutnell T.P. (2008) Deregulation of maize c4 photosynthetic
development in a mesophyll cell-defective mutant. Plant Physiol 146:
1469-1481.
Majeran W., Cai Y., Sun Q.and van Wijk K.J. (2005) Functional
Differentiation of Bundle Sheath and Mesophyll Maize Chloroplasts
Determined by Comparative Proteomics. The Plant Cell 17: 3111-3140.

Klaas J. van Wijk
Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for the Field of Plant Biology
Dept of Plant Biology
332 Emerson Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
tel +1-607-255-3664
[3]http://cbsu.tc.cornell.edu/vanwijk/


References

1. [Only registered users see links. ]
2. mailto:[Only registered users see links. ]
3. [Only registered users see links. ]