|
About the Research Group This position sits within the Circular Bioeconomy Systems research group, which uses emerging science to produce materials from sustainable carbon sources, pioneering the shift toward low-energy, low-carbon-intensity circular agriculture and manufacturing. The group is highly multidisciplinary, bringing together experts from UT and ORNL working on plant feedstock improvement, biomaterial engineering, and the economics and sociology of the bioeconomy. You will work under the supervision of Dr. Raphael Ployet, Research Assistant Professor in Plant Biotechnology at UT-ORII. Our lab investigates the molecular underpinnings of fiber formation in perennial biomass crops (switchgrass, poplar, miscanthus) using microscopy, genome-wide association studies, functional genomics, and bioinformatics. Duties and Responsibilities The Undergraduate Research Assistant will contribute to ongoing plant science projects working closely with other members of the lab, with the opportunity to take ownership of projects as skills develop. Depending on interest and experience, responsibilities may include: - Preparing plant tissue samples for microscopy
- Capturing images using a range of microscopy methods and performing image analysis
- Gene cloning and construct preparation
- Biomass treatment for fiber extraction
- Bioinformatic analysis of genomic and transcriptomic datasets
- Plant cultivation, maintenance, and phenotyping
- Recording and documenting results, and presenting findings at group meetings
About UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute was launched by the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2021 to leverage UT and ORNL’s best capabilities and resources. Our mission is to accelerate collaborative discovery, innovation, and interdisciplinary graduate education, and to prepare the next generation of talent in areas of critical importance to the nation and the State of Tennessee. Our current convergent research areas include Circular Bioeconomy Systems, Advanced Manufacturing for Affordable Building Construction, Fusion Technology and Materials for Extreme Environments, Radiopharmaceutical Therapies, and Transportation. |