Assistant Member, Principal Investigator

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is seeking a new faculty member (Assistant Member and Principal Investigator). Candidates from all disciplines relevant to the Danforth Center and its mission to ‘improve the human condition through plant science’ are encouraged to apply. The Danforth Center believes that a diverse workforce strengthens and enriches our community, and results in the best science.

Located in St. Louis, Missouri, the Danforth Center is an independent, not-for-profit research institute. The Danforth Center addresses global challenges by facilitating fundamental discovery and enabling translation into entrepreneurial and humanitarian solutions. Our scientific environment is grounded in our values of collaboration, diversity and inclusion, innovation, integrity and respect, environmental sustainability, and stewardship (https://www.danforthcenter.org/about-us/mission/.)

The Center has made significant and sustained investments in infrastructure, technology, and leadership development to foster an environment enabling cutting-edge research in plant science, and that promotes a diverse and dynamic workplace. Our investigators are supported by state-of-the-art core facilities in Data Science, Advanced Bioimaging, Automated Phenotyping, Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry, Plant Transformation, Plant Growth under controlled and field conditions, a center on Subterranean Influences on Nitrogen and Carbon (SINC), as well as two Institutes focused on plant-based renewable energy and international crop improvement. In 2022, the Center acquired a 140 acre field research site within 20 minutes of the Danforth Center. The Danforth Center is embedded in a vibrant plant science community consisting of public and private entities that provide employment opportunities for trainees, fertile ground for collaborative projects, and entrepreneurial endeavors.

The successful candidate will be supported to establish and maintain a productive, extramurally funded research program, and to engage with the broader plant science and education communities. Most member-track faculty have adjunct faculty appointments at partner universities through which graduate and undergraduate students are recruited and trained. The Education Research and Outreach team and summer NSF REU internship program further support faculty engagement with students and teachers. Generous start-up packages, administrative and grant management support, and graduate student support are provided by the Center. Initial appointments for Assistant Members are 6 years, with 5-year renewals thereafter.

Required qualifications: PhD and postdoctoral experience in a relevant field, record of achievement through publications and other scholarly outputs, and a commitment to the Danforth Center’s mission and values.

To apply, please submit the following documents. Applicants are encouraged to highlight connections to the Danforth Center’s mission and values throughout their application.

For full consideration, please submit by March 29th, 2024. If you have questions please check the frequently asked questions document here. Please send any additional inquiries about the search by email to: [email protected]

About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center:

Founded in 1998, The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is an independent, non-profit organization with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Our focus is scientific research at the nexus of food, energy and the environment to improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture. We assemble interactive teams of scientists and develop unique platforms to discover underlying principles about how plants work. We then convert that knowledge into useful crops and products, and partner with organizations that are best positioned to solve problems where they exist around the world. The Center’s work is funded through competitive grants from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as charitable contributions from individuals, companies and foundations.

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is proudly an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment decisions at the Danforth Center are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. It is our policy that the Danforth Center does not discriminate in employment opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin and status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to access the information provided on this web site, please contact Human Resources, at 314-587-1033 for further assistance.