Join Our Team
The Plant Resilience Institute at MSU is growing and seeks talented individuals across research, administration, and more! Visit these active postings to apply, and check back often for new opportunities.
Open Positions
Research Associate-Fixed Term Positions
WALII Postdoctoral Researcher: We seek to recruit a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher with training in molecular biology, plant genetics, or cell biology. The project will leverage recent advances in microscopy, genetics, and physiology to understand molecular mechanisms of dehydration and desiccation tolerance in Arabidopsis. This project is part of a recently funded NSF Biology Integration Institute called Water and Life Interface Institute (WALII, pronounced “Wally”). WALII studies how life interacts with water, from the molecular to the organismal level, across plants, fungi, and animals. WALII is a virtual institute, with scientists located at nine research facilities across the United States. Working together, WALII team members aim to uncover the rules by which organisms interact with water. The candidate selected for this position will be working primarily on Theme 2.
Lowry Lab Postdoctoral Researcher: The Lowry Lab in the Department of Plant Biology at Michigan State University (MSU) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate who will conduct DOE-funded research on field and genomic datasets that have been collected from large switchgrass experiments over the past decade. Switchgrass is a native North American plant that is ideal for studies of climate adaptation and is being improved through breeding for the future Bioeconomy (Biofuels and Bioproducts). Responsibilities will primarily include conducting statistical/genomic analyses and leading the writing of manuscripts. However, there is also the opportunity for this postdoc, if they choose, to oversee parts of the switchgrass field experiment/breeding program and conduct experiments on resilience to environmental stresses. The Postdoctoral Research Associate is expected to work collaboratively with members of the Lowry Lab at Michigan State University, including undergraduate and graduate students as well as technicians, to carry out this research. The successful applicant will also be expected to attend meetings of the DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and MSU Plant Resilience Institute and participate in the annual switchgrass harvest in Michigan.
Research Assistant and Technologist Positions
Rhee Lab Research Assistant: The Rhee Lab is seeking applications from talented college graduates for a 2-3 year Research Assistant (RA) position. This position is ideal for post-bacs who want to enter a career in research. The Rhee Lab’s aim is to uncover the molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Our studies are diverse, ranging from computational modeling of metabolic networks to characterization of novel plant genes with no similarity to any known genes. We work with several organisms (including grasses, cover crops, and desert plants), but much of the lab’s work centers around the model Arabidopsis thaliana. The Rhee Lab recently embarked on characterizing novel proteins and understanding the process of seed dehydration and rehydration, in which the RA would be a key member.
Rhee Lab Research Technologist: The Rhee Lab is seeking applications for a research support position. This position is ideal for post-bachelor degree recipients who want to enter a career in research. The Rhee Labs aim is to uncover the molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Our studies are diverse, ranging from computational modeling of metabolic networks to characterization of novel plant genes with no similarity to any known genes. We work with several organisms (including grasses, cover crops, and desert plants), but much of the labs work centers around the model Arabidopsis thaliana. The Rhee Lab recently embarked on characterizing novel proteins and understanding the process of seed dehydration and rehydration, in which the successful applicant would be a key member.
Internship Opportunities
WALII 2025 Summer Internships for Undergraduates: Summer internships are available as part of a recently funded NSF Biology Integration Institute called Water and Life Interface Institute (WALII, pronounced “Wally”). WALII studies how life interacts with water, from the molecular to the organismal level, across plants, fungi, and animals. WALII is a virtual institute, with scientists located at nine research facilities across the United States. Working together, WALII team members aim to uncover the rules by which organisms interact with water.
Internships are available in multiple WALII labs, including the Rhee and VanBuren labs at PRI. Applications are due February 7, 2025.
- Rhee Lab WALII Project: Investigating molecular pathways essential for seeds to survive desiccation and rehydration
- VanBuren Lab WALII Project: Identify conserved and lineage-specific molecular responses to anhydrobiosis
Tenure-System Faculty Positions
The Plant Resilience Institute at Michigan State University has openings for multiple new faculty positions at a tenure-track assistant, associate, or full professor level from individuals using innovative laboratory, computational, or field experimental approaches to study plant responses to the environment. Questions about these positions can be directed to Associate Director Dr. David Lowry at PRI.Admin@msu.edu.
Read more about MSU's Plant Science Excellence hiring campaign here.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Why MSU?
Michigan State University is a member of the Association of American Universities and is listed among the 100 most distinguished research universities in the world. With over $750 million dollars in research expenditures annually, MSU is a Top 50 research university nationally. Nearly 1,900 tenure stream faculty and 17 degree-granting colleges including Engineering, Natural Science, Agriculture, three Colleges of Medicine (Human, Osteopathic, and Veterinary), Education, Humanities, Social Science, and the MSU/Department of Energy Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, create diverse and countless opportunities for collaboration.
