Research Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Regulation of Carbon Assimilation in C4 Plants

The Stern Laboratory at the Boyce Thompson Institute invites applications for 1-2 individuals to participate in projects focused on exploring and modifying C4 photosynthetic pathways. Key experimental skills include photosynthetic measurements in living plants, molecular biology including gene cloning, and protein biochemistry including the expression and purification of recombinant proteins. Successful applicants will have a passion for research, familiarity with using academic literature, outstanding organizational skills, the ability to critically analyze using statistical tools, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. If an individual does not have experience in one or more of these areas, training will be provided. Applicants with a BS, or who will complete their BS in the near future, will be considered.

Our laboratory focuses on chloroplast biology, and this project specifically concentrates on the limitations and role of cell-type specificity in C4 plants as it pertains to carbon capture and photosynthesis. Near-term objectives include in vitro analysis of recombinant Rubisco activase and pyruvate, phosphate dikinase enzymes, and engineering and regulation of Rubisco activase in vivo . We collaborate with other groups with complementary expertise, and learning opportunities with those groups may be possible.

The Boyce Thompson Institute is located on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, NY. The incumbent will have the opportunity to work with a fairly small, friendly and skilled team in the research-focused atmosphere of BTI. BTI sponsors a Postgraduate Society that organizes a range of synergistic training and professional development activities such as individualized mentoring, bioinformatics, and leadership opportunities. We welcome diverse applicants with a range of career goals. As such, applicants should provide both professional experience and a cover letter outlining their current career goals and hopes for professional development in this position. Positions are open until filled, and will be available beginning approximately June 1st.

References:

Hotto, A.M., Gartner, S., Eshenour, K., Stern, D.B. (2025) The a form of Rubisco activase supports photosynthesis during heat stress in the absence of the ß form in Setaria viridis. J. Exp. Biol. 76:5930-5945

Hotto, A.M., Salesse-Smith, C.E., Lin, M., Busch, F.A., Simpson, I., Stern, D.B. (2021) Rubisco production in maize mesophyll cells through ectopic expression of subunits and chaperones. J. Exp. Biol. 72:4930-4937

Salesse-Smith, C.E., Sharwood, R.E., Busch, F.A., Stern, D.B. (2019) Increased Rubisco content in maize mitigates chilling stress and speeds recovery. Plant Biotech. J. 1-12

Salesse-Smith, C.E., Sharwood, R.E., Busch, F.A., Kromdijk, J., Bardal, V., Stern, D.B. (2018) Overexpression of Rubisco subunits with RAF1 increases Rubisco content in maize. Nature Plants 802-810