Microbial diversity profoundly impacts terrestrial ecosystems as it provides the key catalysts for the biogeochemical reactions needed to sustain all ecosystem services. The postdoctoral researcher will work on samples originated from constructed ecosystems and will research: antibiotic resistance, biogas production, chain elongation, anaerobic aromatic degradation. The knowledge gained in this project will be used in technology transfer activities to policy making agencies and industry.
Brief description of job:
We seek a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to work in projects involving the analysis of more than 400 samples collected from bioreactors to large-scale biogas plants originated from the collaborative effort between the Microbial Data Science group (led by Dr. Nunes da Rocha, https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=43659) and MICAS group (led by Dr. Kleinsteuber, https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=38431). The postdoctoral researcher will focus on the coordination of the several projects involved with bioinformatics and microbial ecology in constructed ecosystems. Further, the postdoctoral researcher will participate in the wet-lab preparation of the samples for sequencing (DNA and RNA extractions). Additionally, the postdoctoral researcher will focus on the reconstruction of genomes from metagenomes, multi-omics analysis and writing the manuscripts for publication.
Your profile:
- PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology or systems biology with a background on microbial ecology or microbial physiology
- Demonstrated experience in working with omics databases (in particularly high-throughput DNA or RNA-seq), python (other languages are an advantage) and use of related bioinformatics tools and pipelines
- Solid experience in scientific publishing attested by first authored publications in ISI listed journals
- Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team
- Proficient spoken and written English language skills
Your tasks:
- Coordinate sequencing projects
- DNA extraction for short and long read sequencing
- Library preparation and long read sequencing for the selected projects
- RNA extraction for sequencing
- Development of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics analysis pipeline for long sequencing reads.
- Mining molecular microbial physiology databases (experience in biodegradation of aromatic compounds and antimicrobial resistance is an advantage)
- Data analysis using advanced statistics mainly using python and R based multivariate statistics, modeling and network analysis toolboxes.
- Teamwork within the working group and other collaborating projects in joint data synthesis activities for own and joint publications.
- Writing high-ranking scientific publications and data presentation in conferences.
Please submit your application via UFZ's webportal (click here to apply) with your cover letter, CV (please omit your photo, age, nationality or marital status), list of publications and relevant attachments.
Questions: Dr. Ulisses Nunes da Rocha (ulisses.rocha@ufz.de)