The lab of Ka Wai Ma is inviting application working on plant-microbiota research. The lab is using model system such as Arabidopsis thaliana and the associated culture collection to understand the principles governing plant-microbiota homeostasis. The lab routinely uses omics techniques including amplicon sequencing, transcriptomics and reconstitution system. In addition to general assistance in maintaining the bacterial culture collection, you will work on a project looking at the mechanistic basis of how bacterial microbiota members interfere with the plant immune response.

The position is opened until filled

馬家威實驗室現誠聘研究助理/博士後，從事植物微生物相研究。本實驗室使用模式植物，例如阿拉伯芥和相關的微生物庫瞭解植物微生物相互動平衡機制。本實驗室大量使用多體學技術包括擴增子測序、轉錄組分析。除了協助實驗室日常工作和維護細菌微生物庫外，您還將參如

利用生化技術剖析細菌微生物群如何干擾植物免疫反應的機理基礎研究。

Applicants are required to

1. have research experience in molecular biology or biochemistry, and hold a MS degree (RA) or a PhD (postdoc).
2. experience of microbiology is preferred.
3. Good command of English and preferably basic knowledge of mandarin.

申請者學須

1. 具碩士學位 (研究助理)或博士學位 (博士後)，份子生物學或生物化學科研經驗。
2. 具微生物學經驗者優先考慮。

具基本英語交流，通華語為佳。

實驗室網站：https://sites.google.com/view/kock-lab/home

1. A PhD degree in Plant Biology/Genetics/Biochemistry or a related discipline.
2. A good command of English and capable of acquiring new skills.
3. Must be experienced in more than one of the following techniques: (1) molecular biology (Golden gate/gateway/Gibson assembly), confocal microscopy (time-lapse imaging, image analysis), DNA sequencing analysis (RNAseq, scRNAseq), Biomolecular interactions (in vitro pull-down, MicroScale Thermophoresis, Isothermal titration calorimetry).

A good track record of publication that demonstrates the above.

本實驗室利用蘚苔為實驗材料，致力於研究陸生植物的外表形態環境適應及其訊號傳遞的演化過程機制。本計畫會用到分子生物、遺傳、基因組編輯、顯微鏡觀察及蛋白純化等技術。本實驗室老師具有高度教學熱忱，歡迎對植物研究工作有熱忱的你加入。The lab is using moss (Physcomitrium patens) as a model to investigate various developmental biology-related questions in plants. The lab routinely employs techniques such as genetic manipulations, protein expression/purification, and confocal microscopy observation. We encourage those interested in plant biology to be part of the team. 實驗室網站：https://sites.google.com/view/kock-lab/home

（1）具備並熟悉以下其中一項技術：Molecular biology (Golden gate/gateway/Gibson assembly), confocal microscopy (time-lapse imaging, image analysis), DNA sequencing analysis (RNAseq, scRNAseq), Biomolecular interactions (in vitro pull-down, MicroScale Thermophoresis, Isothermal titration calorimetry).

（2）中英文能力佳（實驗室會議及實驗紀錄皆使用英文）A  good command of English and Mandarin；

（3）生命科學等相關學位 Possess a life science-related degree in the fields of plant and/cell biology/genetics ；

（4）外籍人士也歡迎。International applicants are encouraged to apply.

The major research interests in the LAI lab are to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying how bacterial pathogens deploy protein secretion systems for survival at its ecological niche and successful infection inside the plant host. We study the mechanistic and biological insights of the two major protein secretion nanomachines, type IV and type VI secretion systems (T4SS and T6SS), in Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the causal agent of crown gall disease and powerful gene transfer tool. We also aim to identify novel agrobacterial and plant genes critical for plant transformation and gene editing. The knowledge may provide new insights to improve Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation and translational applications in biomedicine and/or agriculture.

The postdoc will carry out a 3-year NSTC grant to study the molecular mechanisms of T6SS offense and defense with focuses to investigate how the recipient cell factors involved in regulating the toxicity of T6SS antibacterial effector.

The LAI lab provides the research environments and expertise on studies of protein secretion and pathogen-plant interactions using various tools including genetics/genomics, molecular biology, biochemistry/proteomics, and cell biology. The research may expand to study structural aspects of effector-associated complex using X-ray crystallography and cryoEM through collaborations with the assistance of Academia Sinica Protein Clinic and Cryo-EM Center. The postdoc is also encouraged to develop an independent project and will be trained to serve as a mentor toward an independent investigator. The LAI lab is also active in international collaborations, which will bring opportunities for abroad training.