Junior Group Leader in Plant Adaptation-in-Action (University of Munster Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity)

The Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity at the University of Münster, Germany, invites applications for a Junior Group Leader *Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiterin* (Salary level TV-L E13, 100%) in the Plant Adaptation-in-Action group, headed by Prof Shuqing Xu (https://www.uni-muenster.de/Evolution/plantadapt/people/shuqingxu.shtml). The successful candidate may start as soon as possible, preferably before April 2021. The salary will initially be provided for three years with the possibility of an extension. The emergence of agricultural pests and their resistance to pesticides is a remarkable example of rapid adaptation in a human-mediated evolutionary experiment. The Colorado potato beetle (CPB, Leptinotarsa decemlineata), an insect with little practical significance to crops 150 years ago, is now a devastating global pest of potato and other solanaceous crops and has evolved resistance to nearly all known insecticides. The remarkable resistance to insecticides and relatively short and well-known natural history thus make CPB an ideal system to study the mechanisms of insecticide resistance and evolutionary processes of agricultural pests. In this DFG-funded project, the candidate will lead a team to investigate the evolution of CPB and the mechanisms of insecticide resistance using interdisciplinary approaches. During the course of the project, the candidate will mature his/her scientific skills and develop independent project planning and management skills. In addition, the candidate will have the opportunity to improve their leadership skills by leading a research team consisting of one PhD student and several MSc and BSc students. The position serves as a stepping-stone for the candidate to pursue a faculty position. Requirements: We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with a doctoral degree, or equivalent, in biology, evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics or computer science. The candidate is expected to design, conduct and organize a large whole-genome resequencing project and conduct experimental work with high degree of independence. Thus, a background in bioinformatics and evolutionary genomics is required. Applicants must demonstrate experience in statistics and population genomics. Experience with pesticide resistance, animal evolutionary ecology, plant-herbivore interactions and molecular genetics are a plus. Our group consists of people of various nationalities and teamwork is essential for all projects in the group. Therefore, excellent communication skills, as well as proficiency in spoken and written English are expected. Good knowledge of German is a plus. The University of Münster is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing the proportion of women academics. Consequently, we actively encourage applications by women. Female candidates with equivalent qualifications and academic achievements will be preferentially considered within the framework of the legal possibilities. The University of Münster is committed to employing more staff with disabilities. Candidates with recognized severe disabilities who have equivalent qualifications are given preference in hiring decisions, although some restrictions related to specific project-related tasks may apply. Applications must be in English and include: a motivation letter stating the candidate’s research interests with reference to thestated requirements in no more than 2 pages, a detailed CV including academic and extracurricular achievements, as well asdetails of all research experience, an abstract of the PhD thesis, and contact details for at least two referees. Applicants should send their documents in one single PDF file to Prof Shuqing Xu (shuqing.xu@uni-muenster.de) with a subject line “Junior Group Leader Position on Evolutionary Genomics - Your Name”. The application review will commence on 1st February 2021. The position will remain open until filled. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Bioloxy

The Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity at the University of Münster, Germany, invites applications for a

Junior Group Leader

Wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in

(Salary level TV-L E13, 100%)

in the Plant Adaptation-in-Action group, headed by Prof Shuqing Xu (https://www.uni-muenster.de/Evolution/plantadapt/people/shuqingxu.shtml).

The successful candidate may start as soon as possible, preferably before April 2021. The salary will initially be provided for three years with the possibility of an extension.

The emergence of agricultural pests and their resistance to pesticides is a remarkable example of rapid adaptation in a human-mediated evolutionary experiment. The Colorado potato beetle (CPB, Leptinotarsa decemlineata), an insect with little practical significance to crops 150 years ago, is now a devastating global pest of potato and other solanaceous crops and has evolved resistance to nearly all known insecticides. The remarkable resistance to insecticides and relatively short and well-known natural history thus make CPB an ideal system to study the mechanisms of insecticide resistance and evolutionary processes of agricultural pests. In this DFG-funded project, the candidate will lead a team to investigate the evolution of CPB and the mechanisms of insecticide resistance using interdisciplinary approaches.

During the course of the project, the candidate will mature his/her scientific skills and develop independent project planning and management skills. In addition, the candidate will have the opportunity to improve their leadership skills by leading a research team consisting of one PhD student and several MSc and BSc students. The position serves as a stepping-stone for the candidate to pursue a faculty position.

Requirements: We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with a doctoral degree, or equivalent, in biology, evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics or computer science. The candidate is expected to design, conduct and organize a large whole-genome resequencing project and conduct experimental work with high degree of independence. Thus, a background in bioinformatics and evolutionary genomics is required. Applicants must demonstrate experience in statistics and population genomics. Experience with pesticide resistance, animal evolutionary ecology, plant-herbivore interactions and molecular genetics are a plus. Our group consists of people of various nationalities and teamwork is essential for all projects in the group. Therefore, excellent communication skills, as well as proficiency in spoken and written English are expected. Good knowledge of German is a plus.

The University of Münster is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing the proportion of women academics. Consequently, we actively encourage applications by women. Female candidates with equivalent qualifications and academic achievements will be preferentially considered within the framework of the legal possibilities.

The University of Münster is committed to employing more staff with disabilities. Candidates with recognized severe disabilities who have equivalent qualifications are given preference in hiring decisions, although some restrictions related to specific project-related tasks may apply.

Applications must be in English and include:

a motivation letter stating the candidate’s research interests with reference to thestated requirements in no more than 2 pages,
a detailed CV including academic and extracurricular achievements, as well asdetails of all research experience,
an abstract of the PhD thesis, and
contact details for at least two referees.

Applicants should send their documents in one single PDF file to Prof Shuqing Xu (shuqing.xu@uni-muenster.de) with a subject line “Junior Group Leader Position on Evolutionary Genomics - Your Name”. The application review will commence on 1st February 2021. The position will remain open until filled.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Bioloxy

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