Postdoctoral Researcher in Bioinformatics and Genetics

The Swedish Museum of Natural History is a government agency with a mandate to promote knowledge, research, and interest in our world. It is a prominent research institution and Sweden's largest museum. For more than 200 years, the museum has been collecting specimens and data and conducting research on life on earth. The collections contain more than 11 million plants, animals, fungi, environmental samples, minerals, and fossils. All research and knowledge are shared in the exhibitions, Cosmonova, and in activities at the museum and digitally.

Work Tasks

We will focus on sequencing the genome of an Argyranthemum species in the Canary Islands and investigate the evolution of two independent homoploid hybrid lineages. This work will integrate comparative genomics (including the production of reference genomes, annotation, and characterization of transposable elements) with population genomics (such as variant calling and analyses of hybridization), and simulation-based approaches. This Postdoc position is part of a five-year research program funded by the Wallenberg Foundation, which aims to develop and apply computational tools to understand the evolution of biodiversity (see here (https://islandevolution.github.io/)).

You will explore questions such as:

• Do different homoploid hybrid lineages exhibit signatures of hybridization in distinct genomic regions?
• Are homoploid hybrid lineages interbreeding with each other or with parental species?
• To what extent are these lineages genetically differentiated?

The Postdoc will be working closely with José Cerca at the Swedish Museum of Natural History and Rike Stelkens at Stockholm University, and collaborate with international members in Spain (Pablo Vargas, Jairo Patiño, Alfredo Reyes), in Canada (Loren Rieseberg), in Norway (Christian Brochmann), and in the UK (Mark Carine, Mark Chapman, and Oliver White). You will have the possibility to collaborate with other members of the Swedish Museum of Natural History such as Knud Jønsson, Martin Irestedt, and Johan Nylander.

Qualifications

• Have completed a PhD, or have acquired equivalent qualifications in Sweden or abroad.
• Documented knowledge in a relevant research field.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Merits

In addition, experience in the following areas will be considered:

• Knowledge in population genomics and hybridization.
• Knowledge in island biology.
• Knowledge in comparative genomics and reference genomes.
• A strong interest in and experience working with plant biodiversity.

Personal Competences

• Analytical thinking.
• Ability to collaborate.
• Creativity.

Other

Please include the following documents with your application:

• A well-justified cover letter including a statement of interest, a brief summary of your scientific work and interests, and a personal reflection on how your qualifications align with the profile of the candidate we seek.
• CV summarizing your education, positions, and academic work, including scientific publications.
• A list of publications and academic work you wish to be considered by the evaluation committee.
• Documentation of English proficiency, if applicable.
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (including their relationship to you, email, and telephone number).
• [Optional, but beneficial] A 1-2 page research proposal outlining your research questions, the biological system of focus, and experimental design.
• [Optional, but beneficial] A previously submitted grant application (e.g. MSCA or any other grant) by the candidate, so the committee assesses interests and merits.

We advance our knowledge of the natural world, inspiring to better care for our planet. Our ambition is that the employees of The Swedish Museum of Natural History shall represent the diversity in Sweden and we welcome every applicant.

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