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Open Positions                                          

The Zhang Lab at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, studies how photosynthetic organisms respond to abiotic stresses (high temperatures/light) by using both green algae and land plants as models, with a particular focus on stress effects on photosynthesis.

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       Requirements for PhD graduate students: a BS in biology, plant biology or related field; highly motivated,     

       passionate for plant science, eager to learn new things, creative, some lab experience are preferred. 

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  • We welcome undergraduate researchers from universities near Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and national-wide summer undergraduate interns through the Danforth REU program. Requirements for local undergraduate researchers: highly motivated, passionate for plant science, eager to learn new things, curious, complete some basic biology or plant biology courses; some lab experience can be a plus but not required. 

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  • We are actively recruiting postdoctoral researchers. Requirements for postdoc candidates: a PhD in plant physiology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, or related field, highly motivated, goal-oriented,  productive, independent, excellent organization and communication (both written and oral) skills, and outstanding problem-solving and collaborative abilities. ​

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  • We have open positions for these projects below (updated on 11/20/25).
    1. Investigate Thylakoid Structures and PSI Supercomplexes by Multiscale Cryo-Volume Electron Microscopy (vEM) and Cellular Cryo-Electron Tomography (cryo-ET) in the Model Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

      Open positions for: graduate students, undergraduate researchers, or postdocs with fellowships (funded by DOE)

       Project summary: This project will investigate changes of thylakoid structures and PSI-Supercomplexes in heat-           treated Chlamydomonas cells under native status in situ by employing three-dimensional (3D) cryo-vEM and cryo-

       cryo-ET technologies. The information revealed with unprecedented precision and single molecule resolution 

       can largely address knowledge gaps in the interactions among photosynthetic electron transport, photosynthetic

       complexes, and thylakoid structures under stressful conditions, and help improve stress tolerance in

       photosynthetic cells.

       Skills involved in the project or skills that can be learned from the project: photosynthetic measurements,               

       cryogenic freezing of algal cells, analyzing 3D vEM, cryo-ET data, algal physiology, genetics and biology, algal

       cultivation in photobioreactors.

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       2. Epigenetic Regulation of Heat Stress Memory in Photosynthetic Cells

       Open positions for: postdocs, graduate students, undergraduate researchers (funded by NSF)

       Project summary: This project aims to integrate interdisciplinary, genome-scale, high-throughput approaches to             elucidate fundamental biological questions about how plant cells tolerate repeated high temperatures, particularly         focusing on photosynthetic processes. This project will address the understudied, stress-induced heat stress                 memory over multiple generations using highly controlled algal cultures (unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas           reinhardtii) and model plants (the dicot model Arabidopsis thaliana and the monocot model Setaria viridis) grown           in soil under physiologically relevant conditions. The research will help improve crop resilience to heat stress,               drive innovative agricultural solutions in response to rising global temperatures.

       Skills involved in the project or skills that can be learned from the project: plant physiology, genetics, and     

       (epi)genomics, photosynthesis and high-throughput phenotyping in model algal and land-plant species,

       computational biology.

       See more information about this project here

       Apply for the related postdoc position online here

 
       3. Dissecting the Regulatory Mechanisms of C4 Photosynthesis and Carbon Partitioning in Sorghum

       Open positions for: postdocs, graduate students, undergraduate researchers (funded by DOE)

       Project summary: The project will employ field-grown sorghum plants, advanced microscopic imaging, and                   systems-level approaches to investigate the regulation of C4 photosynthesis and carbon partitioning under.         

       different light intensities and developmental stages. The project aims to address key challenges facing the

       sustainable bioenergy production of sorghum in field conditions, provide unique information and unprecedented

       insights to improve sorghum productivity and stress tolerance, and develop ‘environmentally smart’ sorghum

       plants.

       Skills involved in the project or skills that can be learned from the project: sorghum photosynthesis, physiology,             genetics, (epi)genomics, transformation, advance microscopic imaging, 3D vEM, field research, and   

       computational biology.

       Apply for the related postdoc position online here

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  • If you are interested in the positions available in the Zhang lab, please contact Ru Zhang (rzhang@danforthcenter.org) with these files below:

    • Postdoc position: a CV, 1-2 page research statement (research experience, research interest, and career goals), and contact information of three referees. Apply for the available position online.

    • Graduate student position: a CV, 1-2 page research statement (research experience, research interest, and career goals), and contact information of three referees.

    • Undergraduate researcher: a CV, and contact information of one or two referees.

    • For position inquiry, please indicate the position of interest in the email subject line, e.g., "Postdoctoral Researcher - Zhang Lab". ​​

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