The Tholl lab at the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech is recruiting a Post-Doctoral Researcher, starting earliest November 1, 2024. The Tholl lab integrates biochemical, molecular, and genomic tools to investigate the metabolism of volatile compounds in plants and insects and applies this knowledge to improve crop resilience and pest management and enhance the production of aroma compounds, pharmaceuticals, and industrial products. 

The candidate will have the opportunity to work on a project with focus on gene discovery and biosynthesis of phenylpropene volatiles with roles as natural defenses, flavors, and industrial value products in food crops. Additional projects offer the opportunity of engineering insect terpene pheromone biosynthetic enzymes in plants for the development of enhanced trap crops. We are looking for a talented scientist with strong motivation and interest in investigating and engineering specialized metabolism. The candidate will join an excellent and supportive scientific community in the Biological Sciences Department and across departments in the Virginia Tech Translational Plant Sciences Center and experience a vibrant university environment in the heart of the Appalachian Blue Ridge Mountains. The Tholl lab welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, 1-2-page research statement about their research interests and future career goals, and contact information for three referees (all in one PDF) to: tholl@vt.edu. Please also go to the Virginia Tech Jobs site for submission of the documents (https://careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us/job/530280/postdoctoral-associate). For additional questions, please contact Dorothea Tholl (phone: 540-449-1484; email: tholl@vt.edu).

Minimum Qualifications:
• PhD degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Plant Science, or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in genomics/transcriptomics and gene discovery is essential.
• Strong problem-solving, and oral and written communication skills.
• Experience working within a team.
• Commitment to cultural diversity, an inclusive and safe workplace.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A strong track record in functional gene and enzyme characterization, preferably in specialized metabolism, is desired.
• Experience with GC-MS and/or LC-MS techniques is a strong asset.
• Experience with the supervision of students is preferable.