Researcher in Zooplankton Population Genomics - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM) at Uppsala University provides a broad international environment for research and teaching. The Department's research covers Three collaborative and partially integrated sections: Cancer, infections and immunity as well as genetics and genomics. More info: http://www.imbim.uu.se/research-areas/.

Description: The new research group of Andreas Wallberg is seeking a motivated candidate researcher with strong interests in evolutionary genomics. The successful candidate will join the group to carry out population genomics in marine zooplankton.

Global warming is already causing alarming alterations to our planet’s ocean ecosystems and it is unclear if genetic adaptation in marine species can keep pace with these changes.

The Wallberg group studies multiple keystone species of krill and copepods of crucial importance to marine food webs and our research is motived by the poor state of knowledge of zooplankton and crustacean genomics in times of a rapidly changing world ocean. We focus on two main areas of research: i) de-novo assembly and analysis of the genomes of krill and copepods in order to gain insights the evolutionary processes that have shaped their unusually large genomes; ii) population genomics analyses aimed at uncovering patterns of gene flow, signatures of selection and the genetic basis of local adaptation to the ocean environment.

The project that the successful candidate will join seeks to map and compare genome function and variation across the genomes and natural ranges of different species, using a combination of short-read and long-read techniques and analytical methods. The main aim of the project is to advance our insights into how these plankton is genetically adapted to their environment, including the identification of genes and mechanisms that contribute to adaptation, in order to better understand how they may respond to continued climate change.

Duties: The successful candidate will work on new and ongoing projects in the project. The main duties involve independent and collaborative bioinformatics analyses of population-scale and genome-scale sequence data generated by the group. This work includes: i) the processing of raw second and third-generation genome and transcriptome data, and statistical analysis using population/evolutionary genetics methods; ii) the development and testing of informative reduced-representation gene-targeting assays to effiently map genetic variation and accelerate further research; iii) genome-assembly and annotation of functional elements. Some tasks can require experimental work in our molecular genetics lab. The successful candidate is expected to take major responsibilities for the research project, including the design of workflows, pipelines and experiments and following relevant developments in the field. Within the duties of the position is also the supervision of project students. Some teaching may be included.

Depending on the requirements of the projects and interests of the candidate, involvement in sample collection and teaching is also possible. There is opportunity to participate in field work in Sweden and Europe, as well as to gain practical experience with Nanopore sequencing in our laboratory.

Qualifications required: To be eligible for this position, applicants must hold a PhD degree or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in a relevant field (such as population genomics, evolutionary genomics, marine genetics or bioinformatics). The applicant must be proficient in bioinformatics, including being competent in at least one scripting language (Perl, Python or BASH), experienced with working in UNIX and handling large genetic datasets. Competence in statistical analysis of next-gen sequencing data, population genetics, computational biology or assembly using R or standard scientific packages. Strong interests in either evolution, adaptation, the ocean environment or climate change are required. Excellent communication skills, high level of motivation and ability to interact constructively with others in the group and workplace are required.The applicant is expected to be good at solving problems and open to learn new skills. Very good spoken and written English is required.

Additional qualifications: Experience with molecular genetics, transcriptomics and sample preparation and DNA/RNA extraction is a merit. 

How to apply: The application should include a cover letter (including a brief biography and research interests) and a CV (including a list of publications and the contact details of three people who are able to provide references).

Salary: Individual.

Starting date: As soon as possible or by arrangement.

Type of employment: Full-time, temporary position for a period of one year with eventual possibility to extension.

Scope of employment: 100%.

Information is provided by: Andreas Wallberg, andreas.wallberg@imbim.uu.se

Welcome with your application by January 7, 2021, UFV-PA 2020/4403.

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