Postdoctoral Researcher in Molecular Soil Biology & Ecology

About the role

The AgroBioSciences program at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to advance cutting‑edge studies on soil biology, microbial ecology, and molecular mechanisms that drive nutrient cycling and soil health. The successful candidate will explore the impact of seaweed bioproducts on soil carbon dynamics and microbial diversity using state‑of‑the‑art molecular techniques.

Key responsibilities

• Design and execute independent and collaborative projects investigating seaweed bioproducts on soil biology and functional genomics.
• Apply molecular biology methods such as DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, metagenomics, and transcriptomics to characterize soil microbial communities.
• Develop, optimise, and validate laboratory protocols for soil microbiome analysis.
• Generate and analyse high‑throughput sequencing data, employing bioinformatics pipelines to interpret microbial diversity and function.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams of soil scientists, biochemists, and ecologists.
• Publish findings in peer‑reviewed journals and present at international conferences.
• Mentor graduate students and contribute to the strategic direction of the research group.

Required profile

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Soil Science, Molecular Biology, Ecology or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in soil microbiome research and molecular techniques.
• Strong analytical mindset with ability to manage large datasets.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Required skills

• DNA extraction
• RNA extraction
• PCR and qPCR
• Metagenomics
• Transcriptomics
• High‑throughput sequencing
• Bioinformatics data analysis
• Large dataset management