Postdoc Position in the DFF project: Plant-microbiome interactions in modern and ancient barley

Department of Biology and Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Science

University of Copenhagen

We offer a 19-month Postdoc Position to a Computational biologist/Bioinformatician in the DFF-FNU project: Plant-microbiome interactions in modern and ancient barley. The project is a collaboration between Department of Biology (BIO) Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN) Faculty of Science University of Copenhagen GLOBE Institute (Center for Macroecology Evolution and Climate) and Department Agroecology (AGRO) Aarhus University. The employment starts by June 1 2023; the Postdoc applicant candidate will be part time on GLOBE institute and part time on BIO and should expect tight collaboration with research activities at all four institutions.

Further information about the project on:

https://www1.bio.ku.dk/projects/plant-microbiome-interactions-in-modern-and-ancient-barley/

Rute de Fonseca (Globe Institute) and Flemming Ekelund (BIO) will be main responsible Kristian Holst Laursen (PLEN) and Mette Vestergrd (AGRO) will be co-responsible.

Job description

The position is available for a 19-month period and your key tasks as a Post Doc in the project is:

To manage and carry through your research project
Write scientific papers and co-author papers with other project participants
Dissemination of your results at international meetings and possibly via teaching

Area of research

Plant breeding has provided high yielding crop genotypes; still these depend on extensive and precise chemical input. Thus modern agriculture largely neglects that the rhizosphere microbiome can protect against diseases and promote plant nutrient availability and uptake. In Plant-microbiome interactions in modern and ancient barley we assess the extent of plant-microbiome interactions between varieties of ancient as well as modern barley strains and different microbiomes under different nutrient regimes. We will investigate to which extent modern varieties have lost the ability to interact with the microbiome with focus on plant/bacteria/micro-predator interactions. We expect that multi-element plant tissue analyses combined with sequencing of the root/leaf transcriptome will reveal genes and pathways involved in these interactions. In parallel we will sequence the microbiome to capture the underlying microbial diversity dynamics that influence the interactions. Our results will be a significant contribution to the understanding of the role of the microbiome in plant production and may facilitate more efficient nutrient-utilization higher disease resistance and better plant quality.

As a Post Doc in Plant-microbiome interactions in modern and ancient barley you will be part of an interdisciplinary research team that jointly addresses one of the major challenges in modern biology; i.e. how to understand link and take advantage of the relations between plants and the soil microorganisms that surround them. You will be processing multiple datasets consisting of microbiomes and transcriptomes and establish the relationship between the plant genetic background and its ability to interact with the microbiome under different stress scenarios. Dissemination of research findings via scientific articles is also a major focus point and documentation of good writing skills is important.

Qualifications

We seek highly motivated individuals with (most but not necessarily all of) the following qualifications:

1) A successful PhD in Biology Computational Biology Molecular Microbial Ecology Plant Molecular Biology or a related discipline

2) Strong computational and analytical skills and experience analysing large sequencing datasets including genomic transcriptomic and microbiome data

3) Knowledge of Python or other scripting/programming languages is essential

4) Knowledge of R and other statistical software is preferred

5) An adequate publication record (appropriate for career stage including first-author publications)

6) Documented ability to analyse literature input and original data and present it understandable in oral and written English

7) Collaborative skills

8) Ambition enthusiasm and aim for a career in science

A genuine interest in soil organisms and plants and basic skills in microbiology and plant nutrition will be an advantage.

How to apply:
Applicants are requested to submit their application electronically below including:
1) A letter of motivation for the application with statement of research interests
2) A curriculum vitae (max 1 page)
3) List of publications
4) Copies of MSc and PhD Diplomas and transcripts - other relevant certificates including grades

Procedures
An assessment committee will be appointed to evaluate the applications. The applicants will be notified of the composition of the committee and the Head of Department of Biology will finally select the successful candidate based on the recommendations of the assessment committee.

Terms of salary and employment

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Federation of Professional Associations (AC).Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

The deadline for applications is March 26 2023.

Applications received after the deadline with insufficient documentation or otherwise not complying with the above requirements may not be considered.

Please include:

Cover Letter with details on your motivation and background for applying for the Postdoc position. -

Diploma and transcripts of records (MSc and PhD)

Other information for consideration e.g. list of publications.

Full contact details (Name address telephone & email) of 1-3 professional referees

For further information about this position please contact Rute de Fonseca Rute Fonseca (rute.r.da.fonseca@gmail.com) or Flemming Ekelund (fekelund@bio.ku.dk). However please do not post your application to these addresses.