Assistant Professor-Tenure System - Plant Research Laboratory

About the Role

The Michigan State University-Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory (PRL) seeks up to two tenure-track, twelve-month faculty at the Assistant Professor level. The positions aim to complement and/or strengthen PRL mission areas, with a focus on research addressing fundamental questions in photosynthetic organisms in natural or engineered systems, including plants, algae, or photosynthetic bacteria.

Relevant research areas include, but are not limited to:

• Mechanisms and regulation of photosynthetic light reactions
• Light capture and energy dissipation
• Electron transport reactions
• Primary metabolism and carbon allocation
• Development and organelle biogenesis/biology
• Biotic and abiotic stress
• Integration of growth and environment

Candidates are expected to employ state-of-the-art approaches such as advanced spectroscopy, imaging, cell biology, genetics and genomics, metabolomics, synthetic biology, phenotyping, predictive modeling, or molecular and structural biology (e.g., cryo-EM).

The PRL fosters a highly collaborative environment for creative, fundamental research on photosynthetic organisms. It houses a DOE Basic Energy Sciences (BES)-funded research core focused on energy-related science to understand and improve photosynthetic function. This coexists with interdisciplinary research conducted by individual PRL labs. More information on PRL research is available at https://prl.natsci.msu.edu/research/.

The PRL is part of the broader MSU research community, which offers strengths in plant science, including the Colleges of Natural Science and Agriculture & Natural Resources, the DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, and the Plant Resilience Institute. PRL faculty hold joint appointments in the academic department with the best fit (e.g., Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Plant Biology, Chemistry). This is a union position represented by the Union of Tenure System Faculty (UTSF).

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain an independent, externally funded research program that complements and expands the PRL’s core research foci around light capture, energy conversion, and storage.
• Collaborate with PRL and MSU faculty to advance interdisciplinary research in photosynthetic organisms.
• Contribute to teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
• Demonstrate commitment to core institutional values, including diversity, equity, and inclusion, in research, teaching, and service.

Requirements

• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., plant biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, or related disciplines).
• Postdoctoral research experience.
• Evidence of productivity and potential for independent research.
• Ability to contribute collaboratively to DOE-BES priorities at the PRL while expanding the breadth of the PRL research portfolio.

Application Materials

Complete applications must include:

• A cover letter (1 page).
• Curriculum vitae.
• A research statement integrating past and future research directions (3-5 pages).
• A statement of teaching and mentoring experience and philosophy (1 page).
• Contact information for three references (letters will only be requested for top applicants).

Applications should emphasize how the research will complement PRL’s core research foci and establish independent research directions. Materials must be submitted as a single PDF file.

Questions regarding this position can be directed to the search chair, Josh Vermaas, at vermaasj@msu.edu. Applications must be received by November 2nd, 2026, for full consideration. Late submissions may be considered if suitable candidates are not identified by the deadline.