We are always interested in positive, creative, and ambitious developing-scientists to join our lab group. Our lab group values inclusivity, while fostering an intellectual community that openly shares ideas and works together to advance our understanding of plant biodiversity.
We have upcoming positions available for Masters, Doctoral, and undergraduate researchers.
Prospective Masters and Doctoral students should e-mail John ([email protected]) to arrange an appointment to discuss opportunities. Located on the western slope of the Appalachian Mountains, Athens is your quintessential college town and a terrific place to live and work. Our Department is vibrant and academically strong, with dedicated faculty and an active graduate student body. Our Department has all of the resources that you will need to complete your studies, including a genomics core, electron and light microscopy equipment, greenhouses, and herbarium.
More information regarding our graduate program can be found by following the link below:
www.ohio.edu/cas/plantbio/grad/index.cfm
If you are an Ohio University undergraduate, please stop by our lab sometime to check out what it is that we do, or send John an e-mail to set up an appointment. We require a GPA of 3.0 to conduct research and a commitment of two semesters, but previous research experience is not required or expected. We especially encourage students in their Freshman–Junior year to stop by to discuss research opportunities.
If you are interested in representative publications of my work, please see the links below for example papers:
Schenk, J. J. 2013b. Evolution of limited seed dispersal function on gypsum islands. American Journal of Botany, 100: 1811–1822.
Schenk, J. J., S. Kontur, H. Wilson, M. Nobel, and E. Derryberry. 2018. Allopatric speciation drives diversification of ecological specialists on sandhills. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 179:325–339.
Our lab is also interested in hosting visiting scientists. Please contact John to discuss arrangements.
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITION IN FLORAL EVOLUTION
The Schenk Lab at Ohio University is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to start an NSF Funded project in August 1st 2022. The position will be in person in Athens, Ohio for two years and includes travel support for research and conferences.
Brief Project Overview: Flowers have experienced extraordinary morphological changes through evolutionary time that includes multiple origins of novel, non-fertile structures. Because flowers are a complex network of interconnected parts, they provide an ideal system for studying integrated-trait evolution in response to functional cooption. We are investigating coopted floral structures called staminodes, which are sterile stamens that can perform novel functions, such as nectar production, pollinator attraction, or enhanced pollen dispersal or deposition. Staminodes provide an exceptional opportunity for revealing the evolutionary consequences of functional cooption in an integrated system. The project will study staminodes in Mentzelia (Loasaceae) to answer the question: Is there an evolutionary response to compensate for the loss of reproductive function when a structure is coopted to perform a novel function?
Research tasks: The postdoctoral research associate will be expected to conduct experiments, including genomic library preparation and sequencing, phylogenomics, phylogenetic comparative approaches, morphological characterization of floral traits, floral manipulation experiments with natural pollinators, and field work in the western U.S. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to attend and present work in national and international meetings and publish research results. The postdoctoral research associate will co-mentor undergraduate students and collaborate with a Ph.D. student, research associates, and the PI.
Qualifications: The Postdoctoral Scholar must have earned their Ph.D. in Botany, Biology, or a closely related field before August 2022. Successful candidates are preferred to have research experience in plant evolution, phylogenetic comparative approaches, floral morphology and evolution, and/or pollinator ecology.
Application process: Please submit a cover letter that outlines your previous research experiences, CV, contact information (name, phone number, email, and mailing address) for three professional references, and one publication that best represents your qualifications to https://www.ohiouniversityjobs.com/postings/41476. Applications received by June 5th, 2022 will receive full consideration; however, applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Please see the above link for additional information about applying and qualifications.
For more information, see:
Schenk Lab website: https://schenklab.weebly.com/
Environmental and Plant Biology at OU: https://www.ohio.edu/cas/plant-biology
Our NSF funding: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2117446
Application link: https://www.ohiouniversityjobs.com/postings/41476
Ohio University is proud of its rich history, diverse campuses, international communities, and beautiful Appalachian settings. As part of our ongoing efforts to provide and support a transformative learning experience, we affirm our commitment to fostering a welcoming, respectful, diverse, and inclusive workforce and community. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, national ancestry, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military service or veteran status, mental or physical disability, or genetic information. Ohio University is an equal access/equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.