Postdoctoral position in GROW FLAT: The biophysical basis of flat organ morphogenesis from fluctuating cellular growth

Image of a leaf on day 4 of development and the same leaf on day 8 of development with the cells tracked from day 4 to day 8 

Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology

School of Integrative Plant Science, Section of Plant Biology

 

 

 

 

Picture courtesy of Kate Harline

An NSF-funded postdoctoral position is available in Dr. Adrienne Roeder’s group at Cornell University to research how Arabidopsis leaves grow to form flat laminar surfaces. Thin tissues, such as plant leaves, are typically flat, whereas the default state of a growing thin sheet is curved. The overarching goal of this project is to understand how leaves maintain their flat structure while they grow. Leaf flatness is a key agronomic trait because it affects the extent of light interception and carbon dioxide intake which are required for photosynthesis. The postdoc hired for this position will address this question of leaf flatness through live-imaging of growth, biophysical experiments, and genetic manipulation using Arabidopsis leaves. We will test the hypothesis that differences between neighboring cells in their growth (heterogeneity) allows the cells to sense variations in leaf curvature and correct to maintain flatness as the leaf expands. The relationship between cell-to-cell differences in growth, cell mechanics, and leaf flatness will be characterized using single and double mutants with curved, crinkly or wavy leaves. This is an interdisciplinary project in which we will collaborate with Arezki Boudaoud’s laboratory in France to develop models, computational data analysis pipelines and perform biophysical experiments. Please visit the Roeder laboratorywebsite (http://roeder.wicmb.cornell.edu) for more information and a full list of publications.

The ideal candidate will have a strong track record and extensive lab experience in plant molecular biology, genetics, and/or confocal imaging. The starting date is flexible, ideally September or October 2022. Applications will be reviewed as received until the position is filled. For full consideration, please apply by July 18th. Generous stipends and benefits will be provided according to NIH NRSA postdoctoral stipend levels. Interested applicants should send a PDF including a CV, a brief description of future research interests, and contact information for three references to Dr. Adrienne Roeder (ahr75@cornell.edu). Please include “GrowFlat Postdoc 2022” in the subject line. Informal inquiries are welcome. For details see official posting (https://apps.hr.cornell.edu/recruiting/facultyview.cfm?posting_id=_JOB_POSTING-3-52716)

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