Student Assistant II STDT 2
Job title: Student Assistant II
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Undergraduate Research Opportunity – Bogar Lab, Department of Plant Biology
The Bogar Lab is seeking an undergraduate researcher for (at least) 10 weeks, up to 10 hrs/wk, to assist a graduate student in ongoing research. The project seeks to characterize the root-associated fungal and bacterial communities associated with living and dead tree roots, from surface to bedrock, at a NSF NEON site in the South Sierra foothills (Soaproot Saddle). Our lab’s work focuses on symbiotic interactions between plant roots and soil fungi, using techniques from molecular biology, physiology, and ecology to investigate how these interactions work and how their diversity and functions shift with environmental change.
Project Description: The Bogar Lab’s “DSC” project is described in NSF grant #2520819, “MMOR: The influence of fire on root and microbial carbon cycling in deep soils in a pine-oak forest”. We will study links between roots, microbial populations/communities/traits, and carbon pools to build predictive models that mechanistically incorporate microbes and seasonal variation to understand landscape- and ecosystem-scale carbon cycling in forests subject to fire. Findings will allow for forest management strategies and predictions of soil carbon flux that explicitly incorporate both fungi and bacteria, in both shallow and deep soils.
Role Description: Assist with grinding root tissue for DNA extraction, assist with DNA extraction/amplification/sequencing, assist with soil respiration measurements and carbon fractionation. Participate in Bogar Lab meetings/research discussions if desired. Specific techniques may include:
- Grinding root tissue with liquid nitrogen
- DNA extraction using Qiagen DNeasy Plant Pro Kit
- DNA Amplification using PCR
- Metabarcoded Amplicon Library preparation for AVITI sequencing
- Soil preparation for analysis (sieving, weighing, etc.)
- Soil respiration measurements (Slessarev & Schimel, 2020)
- Carbon fractionation (Hunter et al., 2024)
Candidate Selection: Ideal candidates will be curious, organized, and interested in plant-fungal symbiosis/plant and microbe physiology/soil science as a potential graduate research topic/career path. The successful candidate should exhibit the following:
- Experience in plant/microbe/soil laboratory work and/or project management and leadership
- Interest in both the research goals and techniques outlined above
- Interest in broader project/lab research goals
- Excellent communication skills
- Aptitude for independent work in a collaborative research project
The selection process will also take into consideration the candidate’s current schedule compatibility with the supervising graduate student, such that lab work can be scheduled in increments of two hours or more. We are also interested in candidates with the capacity to continue as undergraduate researchers into the 2026-2027 school year if the offer is extended.
The Bogar Lab is committed to maintaining a culture of inclusiveness where all members of our group are valued and supported toward their own visions of success. In your cover letter, please briefly highlight any relevant experiences you’d like us to tell us about, and let us know why you want to work on plant-fungal symbiosis in our group, with particular attention to how working with us will help you reach your short- or long-term goals (whatever they may be right now).