A postdoctoral research position is available immediately to join an interdisciplinary project focused on gibberellin (GA) signaling and transcriptional regulation in plants. We seek a highly motivated researcher with a strong background in protein chemistry, molecular genetics, genomics, and/or plant development.

GA perception by its nuclear receptor, GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF1 (GID1), triggers polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the master growth regulators DELLA proteins via the SCF^SLY1/GID2 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. DELLA genes are known as “Green Revolution” genes, as dominant mutations confer semi-dwarfism and significantly increased crop yields through reduced GA responsiveness.

DELLA proteins function as central signaling hubs, interacting with diverse transcription factors (TFs) to integrate hormonal and developmental signals. Recent studies show that DELLAs associate with both activated and repressed promoters, and that TF–DELLA–histone H2A complexes at target chromatin are essential for their regulatory activity. However, how DELLAs achieve interaction specificity and act as transcriptional coactivators or corepressors at distinct genes remains unclear.

This project uses structural, biochemical, and genomics approaches to address these questions and uncover fundamental mechanisms of plant growth regulation.

Related recent publications:

Huang X, Tian H, Park J, Oh DH, Hu J, Zentella R, Qiao H, Dassanayake M, Sun TP. 2023. The master growth regulator DELLA binding to histone H2A is essential for DELLA-mediated global transcription regulation. Nat Plants 9: 1291-305
Huang X, Zentella R, Park J, Reser L, Bai DL, Ross MM, Shabanowitz J, Hunt DF, Sun TP. 2024. Phosphorylation activates master growth regulator DELLA by promoting histone H2A binding at chromatin in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 15: 7694
Dahal P, Wang Y, Hu J, Park J, Forker K, Zhang ZL, Sharma K, Borgnia MJ, Sun TP, Zhou P. 2025. Structural insights into proteolysis-dependent and -independent suppression of the master regulator DELLA by the gibberellin receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 122: e2511012122
Shani E, Hedden P, Sun TP. 2024. Highlights in gibberellin research: A tale of the dwarf and the slender. Plant Physiol 195: 111-34
Alabadi D, Sun TP. 2025. Green Revolution DELLA proteins: Functional analysis and regulatory mechanisms. Annu Rev Plant Biol 76: 373-400

Please send by e-mail with “Postdoc application” in the subject line: a cover letter containing your research summary and career goals, curriculum vitae, and names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of three references to Tai-ping Sun (e-mail address: tps@duke.edu).

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About Professor Tai-ping Sun, Department of Biology, Duke University

John Carlisle Kilgo Distinguished Professor of Biology, Duke University

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Postdoctoral scholar position in plant hormone signaling Professor Tai-ping Sun, Department of Biology, Duke University Durham, North Carolina Director, Center for Infrastructure Systems and Technology U.S. DOT Volpe Center Cambridge, Massachusetts Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama Molecular Pathologist / Laboratory Geneticist University of California San Francisco San Francisco, California Senior Civil Engineer City of Elk Grove Elk Grove, California Engineering Manager Tampa Bay Water Land O' Lakes, Florida Supervising Engineer City of Sacramento Sacramento, California Regional Sales Manager – Process Automation Group Acromag Wixom, Michigan Regional Sales Manager – Embedded Systems Acromag Wixom, Michigan Postdoctoral Associate in Systems Biology (Coruzzi Lab) New York University New York, New York Town Engineer Town of Kernersville Kernersville, North Carolina Environmental Specialist / Sr. Environmental Specialist Ada County Highway District Boise, Idaho Senior Structural Engineer Little Durham, North Carolina Associate Civil Engineer City of Dublin Dublin, California Senior Mechanical Engineer Little Charlotte, North Carolina Senior Research Assistant & Lab Manager (Plant Resilience Research) Plant Resilience Institute at Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan Engineering Manager SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative, Inc. Carrier Mills, Illinois Clinical and Biochemical Geneticist - UCLA University of California Los Angeles (UCLAA) LOS ANGELES CA, California City Engineer City of Belgrade Belgrade, Montana Facilities Electrical Engineer National Laboratory of the Rockies Golden, Colorado Consultant - Existing Building Lerch Bates, Inc. Golden, Colorado Transportation Director City of Thornton, CO Thornton, Colorado Transportation Director City of Thornton, CO Thornton, Colorado Forge Operator II (Small Press) Pursuit Aerospace Cleveland, Ohio Control Room Operator (2nd Class Engineer) Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts Load More Loading... Please wait. Expand Show Other Jobs Job Saved Save Job Postdoctoral scholar position in plant hormone signaling Professor Tai-ping Sun, Department of Biology, Duke University Application First Name Last Name Email address Message To Employer (required) Please attach your resume and up to two additional documents. Files must be 2MB or less and acceptable file types. Add File Captcha / Bot check: Copy from here ...to here Click to hear these letters. What is this? The application opened in a new tab. You may close this popup. By using this feature you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Details Posted: 09-Feb-26 Location: Durham, North Carolina Type: Full Time Area of Focus: Biochemistry Gene Regulation Signals and Responses Salary Details: Postdoctoral scholar salary will follow Duke University guidelines. Required Education: Doctorate Green Revolution DELLA Proteins – Functional Analysis and Regulatory Mechanisms A postdoctoral research position is available immediately to join an interdisciplinary project focused on gibberellin (GA) signaling and transcriptional regulation in plants. We seek a highly motivated researcher with a strong background in protein chemistry, molecular genetics, genomics, and/or plant development. GA perception by its nuclear receptor, GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF1 (GID1), triggers polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the master growth regulators DELLA proteins via the SCF^SLY1/GID2 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. DELLA genes are known as “Green Revolution” genes, as dominant mutations confer semi-dwarfism and significantly increased crop yields through reduced GA responsiveness. DELLA proteins function as central signaling hubs, interacting with diverse transcription factors (TFs) to integrate hormonal and developmental signals. Recent studies show that DELLAs associate with both activated and repressed promoters, and that TF–DELLA–histone H2A complexes at target chromatin are essential for their regulatory activity. However, how DELLAs achieve interaction specificity and act as transcriptional coactivators or corepressors at distinct genes remains unclear. This project uses structural, biochemical, and genomics approaches to address these questions and uncover fundamental mechanisms of plant growth regulation. Related recent publications: Huang X, Tian H, Park J, Oh DH, Hu J, Zentella R, Qiao H, Dassanayake M, Sun TP. 2023. The master growth regulator DELLA binding to histone H2A is essential for DELLA-mediated global transcription regulation. Nat Plants 9: 1291-305 Huang X, Zentella R, Park J, Reser L, Bai DL, Ross MM, Shabanowitz J, Hunt DF, Sun TP. 2024. Phosphorylation activates master growth regulator DELLA by promoting histone H2A binding at chromatin in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 15: 7694 Dahal P, Wang Y, Hu J, Park J, Forker K, Zhang ZL, Sharma K, Borgnia MJ, Sun TP, Zhou P. 2025. Structural insights into proteolysis-dependent and -independent suppression of the master regulator DELLA by the gibberellin receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 122: e2511012122 Shani E, Hedden P, Sun TP. 2024. Highlights in gibberellin research: A tale of the dwarf and the slender. Plant Physiol 195: 111-34 Alabadi D, Sun TP. 2025. Green Revolution DELLA proteins: Functional analysis and regulatory mechanisms. Annu Rev Plant Biol 76: 373-400 Please send by e-mail with “Postdoc application” in the subject line: a cover letter containing your research summary and career goals, curriculum vitae, and names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of three references to Tai-ping Sun (e-mail address: tps@duke.edu). Create a Job Match for Similar Jobs About Professor Tai-ping Sun, Department of Biology, Duke University John Carlisle Kilgo Distinguished Professor of Biology, Duke University Connections working at Professor Tai-ping Sun, Department of Biology, Duke University https://www.escnnetwork.org/jobs/22034772/postdoctoral-scholar-position-in-plant-hormone-signaling Loading. Please wait. Error Powered By