Postdoctoral researcher/fellow in population genomics - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

A position as a postdoctoral researcher/fellow in population genomics is available at the Department of Ecology and Genetics, Plant Ecology and Evolution.

The Department of Ecology and Genetics is an international environment with staff and students from all over the world. Our research spans from evolutionary ecology and genetics to studies of ecosystems. For more information, see www.ieg.uu.se.

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Project description
How and why genetic diversity varies among species is a central and long-standing question in evolutionary biology. In the 70's Richard Lewontin noted that the observed range of genetic diversity is much narrower than expected given the huge range of population sizes ("the Lewontin's paradox"). Despite recent progress, this puzzling observation remains unresolved, likely because the various hypotheses (role of demography, selection and recombination, and life-history traits) have been studied separately. In the project, the candidate will analyze all processes together, focusing on seed plants, which offer large variations in abundance, life history traits, and genomic attributes. We will ask i) How do demography, selection and recombination shape genetic diversity among species? ii) Does it depends on life history traits? iii) Is it enough to explain the Lewontin's paradox? We will build on a unique recombination dataset we have already gathered and on publicly available polymorphism data and life history and ecological traits for each species. The candidate will run a combination of population genomic analyses to infer past and recent demography, the intensity of selection modulated by recombination and how it depends on life history and ecological traits. Empirical results will be compared to extensive simulations.

Duties
Gathering of sequence data, population genetics analyses, computer simulations. The applicant will be responsible for gathering sequence data and analyzing them, and publishing articles.

Qualifications required
PhD degree or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in population genomics or more broadly in evolutionary biology. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc. Candidates must be able to express themselves fluently in spoken as well as written English.

We attach great importance to personal qualities such as ability to work in a group.

Qualifications desired
Good proficiency in programming (bash, Python, C++, R) and/or statistical and modelling skills will be highly valued.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position for 24 months, with a possibility to an extension up to a maximum of 36 months, according to central collective agreement. Scope of employment 100%. Starting date 2023-08-15, or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position please contact: Professor Sylvain Glémin, sylvain.glemin@ebc.uu.se.

Application: The application should include 1) a letter of intent describing yourself, your research interests and motivation of why you want to work as a postdoctoral researcher/fellow and why you are suitable for the position, 2) a CV 3) a short description of your education, 4) a copy of your PhD degree, your grades and a copy of your thesis, 5) name and contact information to at least two reference persons (e-mail address and phone no.), 6) relevant publications. The application should be written in English.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than June 15 2023. UFV-PA 2023/1691.

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