Qualification: Applicants must have an earned doctorate in microbiology, molecular biology, ecology or evolution, bioinformatics, plant and soil sciences, or a related field, and show evidence of excellence in research and teaching through scholarly activities.

Required Experience: Candidates should have a demonstrated ability or clear potential to obtain competitive external grants in support of research and/or educational programs and experiential teaching. The successful candidate is expected to have strong communication skills. The post requires more focus on research & outreach (70%) followed by teaching (30%).

Salary: Level 11; Salary between INR 80,000-1,00,000

Researchers pursuing questions in diverse ecosystems will be considered, and we especially encourage applications from researchers who address questions in systems relevant to plant, soil, and agricultural systems. The candidate should, ideally, have interest and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams and bring strong bioinformatic skills. Candidates that integrate ecology and evolution into their research program will be considered favorably. 

Research and Outreach (70%)

1. Develop a rigorous and nationally recognized research program in microbial ecology or evolution, using advanced ‘-omic’ approaches to characterize microbial populations or communities and their functions and interactions with other organisms and the environment.

2. Lead the dialogue, research, and innovation in soil microbiology, microbial biogeochemistry, and microbial bioengineering.

3. Set up a dedicated ‘omics’ lab; analyze soil microbiology using culture-independent studies, and interpret metagenomics data from the soil microbiome

4. Develop partnerships with internal & external stakeholders to address challenges related to soil health through probiotics and bioremediation

5. Develop protocol, procedures, and checklist for metagenomic DNA/RNA and Protein extraction and interpretation

6. Work with other members of the Centre to design appropriate spatial and temporal sampling protocols and procedures for storing and transporting samples.

7. Help design and conduct surveys and research to assess the major environmental and economic sustainability challenges facing small farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

8. Educate farmers, Centre members, SVU students, and other stakeholders on soil microbiology and agricultural probiotics

9. Guide Ph.D. students

Teaching (30%)

1. Mentor Ph.D. students in their coursework on the ‘Genomics and Proteomics’ paper.

2. Develop and tutor short-term courses/certificate programs/workshops/summer schools on metagenomics.

3. Develop a dedicated course/program on regenerative biosystems/Molecular Microbial Ecology