PhD student in Fungal Genomics

Are you interested in working with systematic biology, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University.

Research in the Fungal Accessory Genome Evolution (FungAGE) lab focuses on understanding the evolution of genomes and the genetic basis of adaptation in fungi. We recently discovered that many fungi harbour massive transposable elements, named Starships, that mobilize a vast diversity of fungal genes. Many of these elements carry toxin/antidote genes that may influence the spread of the Starships. The main goal of this PhD position is to determine if Starships in the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus carry active toxin/antidote genes, and what influence those genes may have on the population structure and dynamics of this important pathogen.

Duties
The PhD student will be expected to be largely based in the wet lab. Focusing on genetic manipulations of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. This will also include vector construction using yeast and/or bacterial transformations. Methods may also employ CRISPR/Cas9. They are also expected to analyse data that they generate, including some minor bioinformatic work. The PhD student are expected to communicate findings both at international conferences and through writing scientific articles for publication.

Requirements
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in microbiology, molecular biology, evolutionary biology, or realted, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

Experience with molecular techniques is a necessity. Good oral and written skills in English are required.

Great importance will be placed on personal qualities such as strengths in organization, problem solving, communication, and collaboration.

Additional qualifications
Additional assets include experience with analyzing genomic data and microbial culturing, particularly of fungi. Previous experience with Aspergillus fumigatus is especially desired. Experience with communication of scientific concepts within an academic setting, including forming hypotheses and conducting statistical analyses is also a plus.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date s agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Aaron Vogan, aaron.vogan@ebc.uu.se

In this recruitment we have replaced the cover letter with questions that you are asked to answer when making your application. The answers will be used as a part of the selection process.

Please submit your application by 23 December 2025, UFV-PA 2025/3515.

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