Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) is seeking a candidate for a vacant postdoc position in molecular microbiology with a focus on function and in situ genomic location of antimicrobial resistance genes.

You will be affiliated with the Genomic Epidemiology Research Group, which primary task is to conduct targeted research with the aim of predicting and preventing infectious diseases in humans and animals, and supporting global detection, surveillance and control. The research group combines expertise in conventional and molecular microbiology with epidemiology and bioinformatics and act as EU and WHO reference centre for antimicrobial resistance.

The Genomic Epidemiology Research Group is together with several partners worldwide and funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation establishing a global surveillance of infectious diseases and AMR to a large extent based on metagenomic sequencing of urban sewage.  An important research objective is to identify novel AMR genes by functional cloning and determine the bacterial host location of known and novel genes.Your main responsibility will be to perform functional cloning and characterisation of AMR genes mainly on human sewage obtained from global sources and compare this to detection of known genes in metagenomics datasets, as well as using predictive models for novel AMR genes.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Your main responsibility will be to clone and characterise AMR genes from sewage and determine the genetic location using different molecular methodologies
• You will compare this to data from metagenomics sequencing, including the use of in silico predictive models
• You will communicate research results by presenting data at project meetings and international conferences, and write reports and manuscripts for publication
• You will engage in the general work carried out by the research group, including discussions and planning of strategies and projects, drafting research grant proposals, etc.
• If your interest lies here and time allows, you will also supervise students and contribute to the group’s teaching activities
• Daily work will be in close collaboration with other researchers in the Genomic Epidemiology group and national and international partners associated with the global sewage project
• Collaboration includes active participation in national and international meetings and conferences, sharing of data and results, and contribution to joint publications

Qualifications
The ideal candidate:

• Holds a PhD degree within one of the following areas: microbiology, biochemistry or similar
• Has documented experience with molecular microbiology, including cloning and transformation
• Preferably, has experience with antimicrobial resistance and is familiar with bioinformatics and genetic epidemiology
• Preferably can combine molecular work with bioinformatics
• Is able to work independently and able to plan and carry out complex tasks, while having the ability to engage constructively in a large, international and cross-disciplinary research group
• Has good English communication skills, oral and written
• Is ambitious and has a strong drive for obtaining high-quality results

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Professor Frank M. Aarestrup, fmaa@food.dtu.dk, +45 3588 6281.