The Department of Biological and Environmental Science is currently seeking to recruit staff to the position of Postdoctoral Researcher, Molecular biology for a fixed period of 1.10.2019-31.3.2022.

Research of the Department of Biological and Environmental Science is renowned in the University’s denoted core research activity fields of basic natural phenomena and mathematical thinking. Areas of research strength in the Department include research evolutionary research and biological nanoscience and research on natural resources and environment. Research in evolutionary ecology and evolutionary genetic is broad-based, with approaches at different levels: from the DNA, through organisms and populations to ecosystems. Researchers working within the field continue a strong tradition of empirical research, using state of the art techniques, to investigate and integrate disparate biological fields.

The postdoctoral researcher will work in the research group of Dr Lotta-Riina Sundberg in the Finnish Academy funded project “Molecular evolution in antagonistic interactions – linking bacterial CRISPR immunity and antagonistic coevolution in bacterial viruses”. The main aim of the project is to understand the functionality of CRISPR immunity and the coevolutionary change in the phage, both in laboratory and in the environment, in molecular and phenotypic scales. We are going to explore dynamics of (type II-C and VI-B) CRISPR immunity, possible trade-offs, and consequent genetic adaptations in the phage. Our results will impact fields of microbiology and evolutionary biology.

The duties and qualification requirements and language skills for the position of the Postdoctoral Researcher are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to have good skills in English language.

Requirements

• we are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic member to our research group
• candidates should have a PhD or be about to obtain a PhD in microbiology, molecular biology, evolutionary genetics or another relevant discipline
• a successful candidate will have good expertise in microbiology and genetics, good communication skills and ability to supervised bachelor and master’s level students
• previous experience with bioinformatics, genomics and/or statistics are considered beneficial

The job-specific salary component of a postdoctoral researcher is based on the job demands level 5-6 (2903,61 €/Month – 3386,00 €/Month) according to the salary system concerning teaching and research staff at universities. In addition, a personal performance-based salary component amounting to 6 – 50 % of the job-specific salary component is also paid.

A trial period of six months will be used when the position is first filled.

For further information: Dr Lotta-Riina Sundberg, +358 40 8053931, lotta-riina.sundberg@jyu.fi.