RESEARCH SCIENTIST: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANT RESISTANCE TO
PATHOGENS OR INSECTS PESTS
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 lead research on the
development of pest and disease resistant strains of crops including fruit trees and timber
of major importance for Mexico. The main aim of the research is to identify and employ
pest and disease resistance mechanisms present in the native flora that can be harnessed
for use in crop plants, particularly crops suffering from emerging disease problems or
diseases with major adverse effects on crop productivity. The successful candidate will
join Biomimic, a multidisciplinary team and will directly interact with other scientists
specialized in genomics, functional genomics, natural or induced mechanisms of genetic
recombination, chemists and technicians trained in molecular biology and bioinformatics.
Biomimic provides access to state of the art high-throughput DNA sequencing equipment
and bioinformatics facilities. Solid experience in molecular biology is required, as well as
strong grant-writing, computer, and oral/writing skills. Experience in plant-microbe and/or
plant-insect interactions at the molecular level is essential. Experience working with fruit
trees is not necessary but the selected candidate is expected to quickly gain experience in
the area.
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, 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.
Establish a line of research on mechanisms of plant resistance to disease/pests and
collaborate with colleagues working on plant genomics and functional genomics to
identify and harness natural plant resistance mechanisms for the development of
resistant cultivars.
Generate novel solutions to plant pest and disease issues affecting major field and fruit
crops in Mexico.
The candidate will collaborate extensively with other researchers of the Biomimic
cluster, both in providing molecular phytopathology related services to the Biomimic
community and by participation in collaborative studies.
Teaching in INECOL Master’s and Doctorate programs.
Supervising 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:
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology or a closely related
discipline with a doctoral degree in biotechnology/molecular biology.
At least one postdoctoral position in area of expertise.
Expertise with molecular characterization of plant resistance mechanisms elicited in
response to pathogen or pest attack.
Special attention will be granted to those candidates having obtained outstanding
research achievements during their doctoral studies.
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.
Proven grant-writing skills.
Ability to work with the private sector as well as government agencies.
Skills in constructing and working in multidisciplinary teams as part of multidisciplinary
projects.
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.