MICROBIOLOGY
ONE POSITION IS AVAILABLE
Position Title: Researcher (Investigador Titular A).
Employment Status: Full-Time, 12 months. The appointment is renewable depending
upon performance and funding. After three years, candidates can apply for tenure.
General Description: The selected candidate is expected to develop a highly original
research program with emphasis on the isolation and identification of soil microorganisms
that affect soil fertility, including host-parasite, host-pathogen or plant-microbe systems,
and specifically investigate potential beneficial or adverse impacts of novel nanomaterials
and nanocompounds on the dynamics, structure and function of microbial communities in
aquatic, soil, rhizosphere, and phylloplane ecosystems. The successful candidate will join
Biomimic and will directly interact with other scientists specialized in genomics, functional
genomics, natural or induced mechanisms of genetic recombination, and technicians
trained in molecular biology and bioinformatics.
To foster a broad understanding of the aims of the Biomimic cluster among the new
scientific staff, once recruited, the candidate will spend a period of 2-6 months in either the
Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (LANGEBIO), Unidad Irapuato of
CINVESTAV, CIMAV (Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados), or Centro de
Investigación Científica de Yucatán (CICY) to establish productive collaborations, write
collaborative grants, and to foster long-term collaborative research projects. The
candidate will then return to the brand new facilities at INECOL’s headquarters equipped
with state-of-the art technologies to facilitate high quality academic and technological
research.
Responsibilities:
Carry out research at the cutting edge of knowledge.
The candidate will collaborate extensively with other researchers of the Biomimic
cluster, both in providing microbiology-related services to the Biomimic community
and by participation in collaborative studies.
The researcher will be expected to examine the effects and interactions of
nanomaterials/nanocompounds on soil fertility and soil and water microbial
communities.
Develop highly original innovative solutions to specific issues related to soil fertility
and/or the environmental impact of nanotechnology that can strengthen links to the
industrial sector by offering expert technical services and by developing intellectual
property.
Propose novel models and molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction of
nanomaterials and soil microbiota in managed and natural ecosystems that have clear
applications to promoting soil fertility or reducing the incidence of soil-dwelling plant
pathogens.
Teaching in INECOL Master's and Doctorate programs.
Supervision of graduate and undergraduate students.
Write competitive grants to fund research activities submitted to Mexican and
international organizations/government agencies, and also to commercial companies.
Publish high quality papers in internationally recognized scientific journals, and
occasionally in books, national and outreach journals and popular magazines intended
for the general public.
Write or help write patents.
Help recruit talents for science and technology among primary, secondary and high
school students.
Qualifications:
Doctoral degree in Microbiology or a closely related discipline from a world-renowned
institution.
At least one postdoctoral position in area of expertise.
Special attention will be granted to those candidates having obtained outstanding
research achievements during their doctoral studies.
Experience in the cultivation and identification of microorganisms from natural and
managed ecosystems, particularly the soil and water and their interaction with
nanoparticles derived from pesticides, agrochemicals, or industrial processes.
Experience in the application and interpretation of molecular and genomic techniques
and of cultivation-independent techniques applied to the characterization of microbial
communities (TRFLP, DGGe, ARDRA, etc.) as well as natural or induced mechanisms
of genetic recombination.
Teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels desirable.
Experience living and working in Latin America is desirable but not essential.
Fluency or a willingness to learn Spanish, both spoken and written, is required; as are
written and spoken skills in English.
Excellent interpersonal and multitasking skills, ability to negotiate, to deal with
pressure, complex situations and stress.
Work outside of regular business hours including weekends and travel is occasionally
required.
Commitment to ethics/scientific integrity.
Skills in constructing and working in multidisciplinary teams as part of multidisciplinary
projects.
Willingness to work outside of regular business hours and travel is occasionally
required.
A spirit of collaboration/team working and service to society.
A driving license.
Authorship of at least 5 recent scientific publications (at least three as first author or
corresponding author), in high quality international indexed journals.
Interested candidates from Mexico and elsewhere in the entire world should send their
updated Curriculum Vitae and additional support material of particular value for members
of the Search Committee (e.g., citation record, relevant awards, narrative of particular
achievements or contributions to science) to Dr. Guillermo Angeles, Secretario Académico
at secretaria.academica@inecol.edu.mx always cc’ing maluja.dirgral@inecol.edu.mx.
Three letters of recommendation are needed as well as the e-mail addresses and
telephones of three established scientists/professors that have agreed to be interviewed
on the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. An additional letter by the candidate
expressing interest in the job, explaining how exactly her/his training/experience fits the job
description, and expressing her/his willingness to strictly adhere to the principles of
collaboration, team working, networking and scientific integrity is also needed. Any
questions should be addressed to Dr. Guillermo Angeles.