Faculty Mentor: Tadashi Fukami, Department of Biology

Project Description: The Fukami lab is seeking three undergraduate Research Assistants during the 2023 Fall quarter. The students will work with Professor Fukami on a project on the effects of bacterial colonization of buckwheat flowers on seed development. The students will sort flowers on a total of 786 inflorescences (clusters of flowers) to which Pantoea bacteria were experimentally inoculated into floral nectar in agricultural fields. The data collected from this sorting will be used to determine how readily the bacteria grow in nectar and establish in floral tissues and how much effect they have on buckwheat seed development. Previously, our preliminary experiments indicated that Pantoea addition increases the chance of successful seed development, possibly by suppressing fungal pathogens in floral tissues, with implications for microbial biological control in agriculture. The research the students will assist with will be used to determine if these preliminary results are robust.

Job duties: The students will sort through flowers to determine if the experimental bacterial inoculation affected seed development, and enter, manage, and analyze data.

Location: All work will take place in a laboratory setting in the Bass Biology building, located on Stanford's Main Campus.

Qualifications: No prior experience is necessary; all training will be included in the position. A positive attitude, enthusiasm to learn, and attention to detail are the most important qualities in potential applicants. Training and supervision of the undergraduate research assistants will be provided primarily by Professor Fukami.

Requirements: Applicants should be available to start near October 16th, 2023, and devote 6-12 hours per week through the end of the 2023 Fall quarter. Scheduling can be flexible based on students’ needs, but they must come to work punctually. The hourly pay range for this position is $17.25-$18.25/hour. Students must be eligible for Federal Work Study.

Support: Eligible students will receive financial support via Federal Work Study.

Position Dates: Near October 16th, 2023 through the end of Fall Quarter 2023.

Contact: Interested applicants should send their CV or resumé, and a one paragraph Statement of Interest to Jennifer Nguyen at jnalyn@stanford.edu. Deadline to apply is Monday, October 10th, 2023.