Postdoc in Ecological Hologenomics at The GLOBE Institute

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic researcher for a 3-year position to work on studying the relationship between ecological niches and gut microbiomes of vertebrates integrating field work, spatial and molecular analyses at the Centre for Evolutionary Hologenomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen.

Information on the department can be found at: https://globe.ku.dk/

Our research
The Centre for Evolutionary Hologenomics was recently funded by the Danish Basic Research Foundation to develop and implement state of the art ‘omics and associated computational techniques, to address through experimental and theoretical research, four key themes underscoring life on earth. Specifically these are: What is the relationship between a host’s genome and the functional and taxonomic makeup of its associated microbial metagenome? Does this relationship explain ongoing ecological and evolutionary processes in the host? Could this relationship provide an alternate explanation to some of life’s big transitions? And, how have we humans exploited this relationship? The Centre is embedded within the GLOBE Institute, that is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Institute’s main purpose is to address basic scientific questions through interdisciplinary approaches. The institute operates at the intersection of natural sciences, medical sciences and the humanities.

Your job
The continuous interaction between hosts and microorganisms associated with them is known to shape and even drive many biological processes of complex organisms, including vertebrates. The capacity to host different microbial communities (metagenomic space) as well as to enable or promote community variation (metagenomic plasticity) can shape multiple biological features of complex organisms. Current molecular and spatial methods enable nuanced analyses of microbiota composition and variation across physical, ecological and phylogenetic spaces, which could contribute to cast further light into the relationship between gut microorganisms and ecological features of their hosts.

In this regard, your position would be working alongside the research groups of Assoc Prof Antton Alberdi, and Prof Tom Gilbert on studying how metagenomic space varies among vertebrate individuals/populations/species/clades, by estimating the metagenomic spaces of 10 closely related species pairs in light of their ecological and genomic features. Metagenomic space and plasticity of host-associated microorganisms will be measured through extensive fieldwork across animals’ full distribution ranges. In a second phase, captivity experiments in which environmental factors will be modified will be conducted with selected species to better approximate species’ metagenomic spaces, and directly measure metagenomic plasticity. This project is embedded within the Earth HoloGenome Initiative, which you will also contribute to by managing sampling logistics, sample processing and data analysis.

Your tasks would therefore be research, including publication/scientific communication of research results, project management, as well as research-based teaching.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in animal biology, ecology, genomics, microbiology or similar.
• You are experienced in generating and analysing high-throughput sequencing data (e.g. genomics, metagenomics).
• You are experienced in field work and animal experimentation with wild organisms.
• You are familiar with relevant programming languages, e.g., Python, Perl, R or C, and have experience in applying statistical methods to molecular data.
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams.
• An excellent publication track record.
• Excellent English skills written and spoken.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and powerful computing infrastructure. Captivity experiments will be conducted in Spain, which will require the researchers to spend relatively long periods of time in Spain.

Terms of employment
The employment as postdoc is a full time position for 3 years. Starting date is 1 June 2020 or as soon after as agreed with the employer.

Salary, pension and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Currently, the monthly salary starts at 34,365 DKK / approx. 4,600 Euro (Ctober 2019-level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities” of 11 December 2019.

Questions
For further information please contact Associate Professor Antton Alberdi, [email protected].

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).

2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.

3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.

4. List of publications.

Application deadline: 22 March 2020, 23.59pm CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Interviews are expected to be held in the week 16.

University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk