A two-year postdoc in metagenomics of avian digestive tract microbiota University of Copenhagen, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Department of Biology Denmark

Natural History Museum of Denmark, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science 

The successful candidate will work on various genomic aspects of avian digestive tract microbiota as part of a larger ongoing Carlsbergfondet-funded project that aims to explore the function and gene expression of the microbiota of the digestive tract in birds and explore the implications for diversity and distributions of birds on Earth. Work in the group includes phylogenetics, phylogeography and systematics and we have a strong field component (currently mostly in Papua New Guinea), with the aim of collecting molecular and ecological data and monitoring bird species movement. The candidate is expected to mainly work on the generation of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data and downstream analyses but is also encouraged to take part in the field efforts. The work will be in close collaboration with other group members and with other staff and students; notably, the fellow will be co-supervised by Associate Professor Michael Poulsen, Section for Ecology Evolution, Department of Biology.

The postdoc’s duties include:  

• Investigate the metagenomes of passerine birds (particularly from Papua New Guinea) to identify functional roles of digestive tract bacteria 

• Use meta-transcriptomes across digestive tract regions of passerine birds to explore gene expression by bacteria with the aim to hypothesise likely symbiont functions within digestive tract regions 

• Use digestive tract metagenomes of select avian clades (e.g., toxic birds, nectar-eating birds) to identify bacterial symbionts that might facilitate their digestive needs for these special diets.  

Qualifications: 

• A PhD in biology or bioinformatics 

• Knowledge and experience working with genomes, metagenomes and metatranscriptomes 

• Excellent skills and experience using multiple bioinformatic tools 

• Demonstrated ability to develop new projects related to the main project 

• Proven written and oral English skills 

Further information about the Department is linked at http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/. Inquiries about the position can be made to Associate Professor Knud Jønsson, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark, Email: kajonsson@snm.ku.dk. 

The position is open from 1 June 2019 or as soon as possible thereafter.  

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

Terms of employment 

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

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.  

The starting salary is currently up to DKK 413.717 including annual supplement (+ pension up to DKK 70.746). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. 

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.  

Please include  

• Curriculum vita 

• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent)  

• Research plan – description of current and future research plans 

• Complete publication list 

• Separate reprints of three particularly-relevant papers 

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2019, 23.59 GMT +2.  

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.  

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