Postdoctoral Researcher in Evolutionary Genetics and Bioinformatics

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Your Responsibilities

For this position, we are looking for someone with a solid background in evolutionary genetics, quantitative genetics, and/or bioinformatics. You will be part of an interdisciplinary research team investigating the genomic mechanisms behind feralization and domestication. The project explores the molecular mechanisms underlying evolutionary processes from domestication to wildness (feralization) using a variety of feral chickens originating from Hawaii and Bermuda, as well as crosses between wild and domesticated chickens.

The work will involve extensive analysis of sequence data, including data from single-cell sequencing (both scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq), as well as conventional whole genome sequencing and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). You will work on various projects, but the main project will involve a combination of selective sweep mapping and other forms of population genetic analysis. This will also include analysis of single-cell data. Therefore, you should have solid knowledge in all these areas.

The project will conduct Genome-Wide Association Mapping (GWAS) using a series of different populations of feral chickens (domesticated birds that have escaped and now live wild across the Hawaiian archipelago), in combination with a cross between wild and domesticated chickens, to map the genes and polymorphisms responsible for their rapid adaptation to new selection pressures. In this context, the combination of single-cell expression-QTL and single-cell ATAC-seq-QTL will enable the identification of the genetic basis for transcriptional regulation between wild and domesticated chickens at the cell type level. At the same time, mapping of epigenomic and transcriptomic data from the same cell nucleus will allow for the identification of both the causal elements and the causal genes in the regulatory mechanism in the chickens' hypothalamus. Similarly, sweep mapping and other population genetic parameters will be examined in these feral populations to identify which genomic regions are most important for the selection response in these populations.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will primarily conduct research. Teaching may also be included in the responsibilities, but at most one-fifth of the working time.

Your Qualifications

To be eligible for a postdoctoral position, you must have obtained a doctoral degree or have a foreign degree assessed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. Your degree must be awarded no later than at the time the employment decision is made.

It is advantageous if your degree was awarded no more than three years before the application deadline for this position. If there are special reasons, it may be considered if the doctoral degree was obtained earlier, for example, due to various types of statutory leave.

You should be very well versed in quantitative genetics with a focus on genome mapping, selective sweep mapping, single-cell analysis, and evolutionary genetics. You should have experience in quantitative genetic analysis, QTL mapping, and single-cell analysis. You should have high competence and experience in evolutionary genetics and laboratory protocols.

Your Workplace

You will work at the Department of Biology.

About the Employment

The position is a fixed-term employment for two years with the possibility of extension for a total employment period of no more than three years. The postdoctoral position is full-time.

Start date by agreement.

Salary and Benefits

The university applies individual salary setting; please state your salary expectations in your application.

We offer the opportunity for remote work for part of your working time when the needs of the organization and the tasks allow for it.

Read more about employee benefits here.

Union Contacts

Information about union contacts can be found in Help for Applicants.

Application

You apply for this position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must be received by Linköping University no later than April 16, 2025. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, as this enriches and develops our activities. It is self-evident for us to safeguard everyone's equal value, rights, and opportunities. Read about our work with Equal Conditions.

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