Announcement of Open Position: Research Technician in Plant Microbiome Resilience

The laboratory of Microbial Ecology (Laboratoire Ecologie Microbienne, LEM, https://www.ecologiemicrobiennelyon.fr/ ) at the Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1 in France accelerates leading research in environmental microbial ecology and evolution. One position for a research technician (IE, ingénieur d’études) is available with a new European Research Council Consolidator Award:  MicroRescue: Resolving mechanisms of microbiome rescue to promote resilience to climate change.

We seek a motivated and dependable technician to support research to understand how the microbiome determines plant resilience to climate change stress. Applicants should hold a master’s degree in the biological or environmental sciences.  This position is well-matched to someone contemplating an academic research career.

The successful candidate will have experience in conducting plant microbiology experiments in the greenhouse or growth chamber. They also will have technical skills in microbiology (enrichment and cultivation of bacteria, phenotypic assays, cell staining and microscopy) and in molecular biology (e.g., nucleic acid extraction, PCR). They will have strong oral and written communication skills in English. In addition, they will be able to independently execute established protocols, record collected data with accuracy and timeliness, and summarize and visualize data for meetings and reports. They will also be able to optimize new protocols related to plant microbiome experiments as needed. They will be able to operate harmoniously as part of a team, work closely with the project PI and post-doc to ensure deliverables, and have a positive, collaborative attitude. They will communicate problems in a timely manner.  They will have a valid driver’s license and be willing to assist in field collection of soils. Additional experiences and skills that will be considered favorably include: language skills in French and/or experience in working in a French research environment, experiences with plant-microbiome engineering, competencies in analyzing data using the statistical application R, and experiences in preparing samples for high throughput sequencing. 

The successful candidate will enjoy a vibrant research group, access to excellent research facilities and platforms at the University of Claude Bernard Lyon 1 "La Doua" campus, and a multicultural project team that is committed to high scientific integrity, open and reproducible science, and promoting inclusivity. The hosting laboratory, Laboratoire Ecologie Microbienne, boasts over 70 permanent microbial ecologists and five technical platforms supporting precise analyses of microbial activities, natural products, and genomes. Lyon, France, is a historic city that has green policies, culinary excellence, and unique cultural experiences. Lyon welcomes a large international community because Lyon is home to several universities, multinational companies, and Interpol.

The position lasts up to four years and is renewed annually, contingent on satisfactory performance evaluations. We offer a flexible start date around September 2024. Applicants should submit, in English, 1) a current curriculum vitae; 2) a cover letter describing their interests and how their skills and experiences align with the position's needs; 3) contact information for three professional references. Applications will only be accepted via the CNRS Job Portal (https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR5557-BEABIG-026/Default.aspx?lang=EN ).