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Post-Doctoral Positions in Ectomycorrhizal Biology University of California, Santa Barbara in United States
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Environmental Science
Funding
Funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense; salary range $71,491-$85,736 per year, commensurate with experience. The project includes travel funds for collaborative visits.
Deadline
Mar 31, 2027
Country
United States
University
University of California, Santa Barbara
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About this position
This postdoctoral opportunity at the University of California, Santa Barbara is centered on plant-fungal biology, with a particular emphasis on ectomycorrhizal symbioses. The project examines how fungal diversity and chemical communication are maintained within tree-fungal networks under changing environmental conditions.
The scholar will contribute to an interdisciplinary research program that combines field surveys, greenhouse experiments, laboratory analyses, and data analysis. A major goal is to understand how environmental variability shapes fungal diversity, gene expression, and chemical production. The work includes quantifying fungal diversity in common gardens, manipulating plant-fungal network composition in controlled experiments, and measuring volatile organic compounds and chemical exudates associated with these interactions.
The project also investigates the chemical language used by plants and fungi to communicate with each other and with other members of their functional guild. The postdoctoral researcher may also take part in multivariate data analysis and mathematical model development to generate new theoretical predictions from the findings.
The appointee will be based in the laboratory of Dr. Holly Moeller at UCSB and will collaborate with researchers across UCSB, UC Davis, and North Carolina State University. The collaboration spans ecology, chemical analysis, and modeling, and the project includes travel support for visits to partner institutions.
The position is designed for a postdoctoral scholar who wants to develop an independent but related line of inquiry while working within a collaborative research network on fungal ecology, plant-microbe interactions, and environmental change.
Funding details
Funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense; salary range $71,491-$85,736 per year, commensurate with experience. The project includes travel funds for collaborative visits.
What's required
Applicants must hold a PhD obtained within the last 5 years or be enrolled in a PhD-granting program or international equivalent at time of application. A PhD in biology, forest ecology, mycology, soil science, microbial ecology, environmental biology, or a closely related discipline is required by the time of appointment, and the PhD must be completed before starting. Preferred qualifications include experience designing and carrying out empirical work with soil microbes, especially field collections and greenhouse experiments; molecular biology skills for identifying fungi, plants, and their traits; greenhouse cultivation of plants and ideally plant-fungal symbioses; programming experience; research experience in microbial ecology, plant physiology, fungal biology, or related fields; and a record of talks and peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage.
How to apply
Apply through the UCSB recruitment portal using the application link provided. Upload a CV, a short 1–2 page cover letter on research experience and interests, and one relevant publication; an optional second publication may also be uploaded. Provide the names, affiliations, and email addresses of at least three references.
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Prepare your application
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Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.