Post-doctoral fellow in Biology

Post-doctoral fellow in Biology

Post-doctoral fellow in Biology

Lund University

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 46 000 students and 8 500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences.  We regard equality, equal opportunities and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Subject description

The postdoc will be part of broad project about the genetics of long-distance migration in birds, funded by an ERC-advanced grant to Staffan Bensch. The project has three main themes: (1) how does the inherited migratory program instruct the juvenile on its first journey?, (2) which are the genes that control migratory behaviour and when and where are they expressed? and (3) how have migratory genes evolved across species with different migratory behaviours?

The candidate for this position will mainly take part in themes 1 and 2.

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral posistion is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

Detailed description of the work duties, such as:

• Fieldwork in Kazakhstan, Bulgaria and Sweden
• Monitor breeding populations of songbirds (catching and colour banding of adults, locate nests, etc)
• Equip songbirds with various types of loggers for tracking
• Analyse logger/transmitter data to reconstruct migration routes
• Preparing samples for DNA/RNA sequencing
• Bioinformatic analysis of re-sequence data (mapping to reference genome, SNP-calling, population genetic analyses, etc)
• Supervision of degree projects

Qualification requirements 

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the date of employment decision. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier. 

Additional requirements

• Broad knowledge of the research field of ecology and evolution of bird migration.
• Hands-on experience with basic molecular ecology techniques, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, and qPCR.
• Documented experience with genomic analyses based on resequencing data.
• Documented experience with attaching loggers and transmitters to songbirds, as well as analysing light-level and pressure data to reconstruct migration routes.
• Experience in organising fieldwork in remote locations and leading teams of field assistants.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria and other qualifications

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers.

Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high-quality research.
• The above stated requirements.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of three years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S and OFR/S, dated 1st February 2022.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and be compiled into a PDF-file containing:

• Résumé/CV, including a list of publications,
• A general description of past research and future research interests (no more than three pages),
• Contact information of at least two references,
• Copy of the doctoral degree certificate, and other certificates/grades that you wish to be considered.

Within the Faculty of Science research and education is conducted within Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, medical radiation physics, physical geography and Environmental Sciences. The Faculty of Science is organized into eight departments, gathered in the northern campus area in Lund. The Faculty of Science has approximately 1900 students, 330 PhD students and 730 employees.

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