CAREER OPPORTUNITIES |
About the Water and Life Interface Institute (WALII, pronounced “Wally”): WALII studies how life interacts with water, from the molecular to the organismal level, across plants, fungi, and animals. WALII is a virtual institute, with scientists located at nine research facilities across the United States. Working together, WALII team members aim to uncover the rules by which organisms interact with water, exploring four integrated themes: 1) the physical and molecular determinants that allow organisms to survive in the solid state; 2) rehydration responses in desiccation-tolerant and -sensitive systems; 3) the molecular grammar of desiccation tolerance conferred by intrinsically disordered proteins; and 4) the short- and long-term evolutionary history of desiccation tolerance. WALII team members have diverse expertise, ranging from biophysics to plant biology, and experience with several desiccation-tolerant and -sensitive systems.
The Institute’s long-term goals are to understand how organisms can tolerate desiccation; invent technologies and concepts to study anhydrobiosis; engineer macromolecules, cells, and organisms that can survive desiccation; and produce the next generation of leaders in all sectors of our society. To achieve these aims, WALII provides mentoring, outreach opportunities, and professional development for all affiliated scientists. That includes funding support for travel to scientific conferences, and internal professional development/training programs.
The Institute’s long-term goals are to understand how organisms can tolerate desiccation; invent technologies and concepts to study anhydrobiosis; engineer macromolecules, cells, and organisms that can survive desiccation; and produce the next generation of leaders in all sectors of our society. To achieve these aims, WALII provides mentoring, outreach opportunities, and professional development for all affiliated scientists. That includes funding support for travel to scientific conferences, and internal professional development/training programs.
Open positions
Postdoctoral position available at the Water and Life Interface Institute – University of Wisconsin-Madison campus: A highly motivated individual is sought to analyze molecular and cellular changes associated with desiccation tolerance in plants and other organisms. These studies will integrate advanced light and electron tomography imaging with molecular genetics and biochemistry, in the laboratory of Dr. Marisa Otegui. Learn more.
Postdoctoral position available at the Water and Life Interface Institute – Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford University campus (Moises Exposito-Alonso Laboratory): We seek to recruit a highly motivated and skillful researcher with training in molecular biology, plant genetics, or bioengineering. We aim to understand the impacts of climate change on plant species from a molecular evolution angle. The project will leverage ecological genomics modeling to identify genes involved in dehydration tolerance and water use efficiency in Arabidopsis, and will use CRISPR-based genetic engineering, developmental genetics, and microscopy techniques to understand the molecular mechanism of such adaptive genes. Learn more.
Research Technician position available at the Water and Life Interface Institute – California State University Channel Islands campus: The Tapia Lab seeks a Research Technician to coordinate lab logistics associated with project experiments, including reserving and scheduling lab time for undergraduate students and experimentation. The Research Technician will participate in several genetic and biochemical experiments to study the molecular and genetic characterization of desiccation-tolerant organisms using yeast as the model organism. The research will concentrate on various hypotheses aimed at better understanding Theme II of the WALII grant: “How does partial re-hydration affect desiccation tolerance?” The Research Technician will gather and interpret data, and assist with writing manuscripts that arise from findings. The Research Technician will also perform additional duties related to the grant and experiments as assigned. Learn more.
2023 Summer Internships for Undergraduates
Summer internships for undergraduate students are available at eight of the Water and Life Interface Institution campuses. Each location has a separate application process and offers different experiences. Students interested in WALII projects are encouraged to apply to multiple campuses. No previous research experience is required.
Interns working on WALII projects will form a virtual cohort*. Interns will participate in a mentorship program, online career development activities (such as a Q&A career panel and a graduate school preparation workshop), and will present at the annual WALII Virtual Symposium. All internships are paid opportunities, but the stipend amounts and program benefits may vary by geographic region.
*Interns hosted by labs at Baylor College of Medicine, Carnegie Institution for Science, University of California (Merced), Michigan State University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison will also be part of an on-campus cohort of interns unaffiliated with WALII and will have additional opportunities for in-person social activities.
WALII Campuses Now Accepting Applications for 2023 Undergraduate Summer Interns
Interns working on WALII projects will form a virtual cohort*. Interns will participate in a mentorship program, online career development activities (such as a Q&A career panel and a graduate school preparation workshop), and will present at the annual WALII Virtual Symposium. All internships are paid opportunities, but the stipend amounts and program benefits may vary by geographic region.
*Interns hosted by labs at Baylor College of Medicine, Carnegie Institution for Science, University of California (Merced), Michigan State University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison will also be part of an on-campus cohort of interns unaffiliated with WALII and will have additional opportunities for in-person social activities.
WALII Campuses Now Accepting Applications for 2023 Undergraduate Summer Interns
- Baylor College of Medicine (Boeynaems Lab): Applications are closed. WALII Project: “Molecular rules of membraneless organelle water responsiveness.”
- California State University Channel Islands (Tapia Lab): Applications are due March 31, 2023. WALII Project: “How does partial re-hydration affect desiccation tolerance?” Learn more.
- Carnegie Institution for Science (Exposito-Alonso Lab): Applications are due March 15, 2023. WALII Project: “Identify genetic determinants underlying desiccation tolerance by mining natural variation in seed germination across A. thaliana populations.” Learn more.
- Michigan State University (Fleming Lab and VanBuren Lab): Applications are closed. WALII Projects: “Identify conserved and lineage-specific molecular responses to anhydrobiosis” and, “What are the genetic and metabolic milestones of recovery from desiccation?”
- University of California, Merced (Sukenik Lab): Applications are closed. WALII Project: “How do proteins help protect cells from desiccation?”
- University of Wyoming (Boothby Lab): Applications are due March 31, 2023. WALII Project: “Surviving The Solid State.” Learn more.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (Otegui Lab): Applications are closed. WALII Project: “How do cellular structures change during dehydration to solid-state?”
- USDA-ARS National Lab for Genetic Resource Preservation (Walters Lab): Applications are due March 31, 2023. WALII Project: “Rehydration And Recovery.” Learn more.
WALII is deeply committed to scientific excellence and diversity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who will enrich and foster a diverse and inclusive environment.
All WALII member institutions are equal opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.
All WALII member institutions are equal opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.
