Postdoc in biology
Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked as one of the world's leading academic institutions. There are approximately 46,000 students and 8,500 employees here in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our endeavor to understand, explain, and improve our world and human conditions.
Lund University welcomes applicants with different backgrounds and experiences. Equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles for all parts of our operations.
Special subject description
The postdoc will be part of a broad research project on the genetics behind long-distance migration in birds, funded through an ERC Advanced Grant to Staffan Bensch. The project has three main themes: (1) How does the inherited migration program guide the young bird during its first migration? (2) Which genes control migration behavior, and when and where are they expressed? (3) How have genes linked to migration evolved in species with different migration behaviors?
The person employed in this postdoc position will primarily work within themes 1 and 2.
Duties
The duties as a postdoc primarily include conducting research. Teaching may be included in the duties, however, at most one-fifth of the working time. Within the framework of the employment, the opportunity shall be given for three weeks of higher education pedagogical training.
Detailed description of the duties, such as:
Fieldwork in Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and Sweden. Monitoring breeding populations of small birds (capture and color-ringing of adult birds, locating nests, etc.). Equipping small birds with different types of loggers to follow their movements. Analysis of data from loggers and transmitters to reconstruct migration routes. Preparation of samples for DNA and RNA sequencing. Bioinformatic analysis of re-sequencing data (mapping against reference genomes, SNP identification, population genetic analyses, etc.). Supervision of degree projects.
Eligibility
To be eligible for employment as a postdoc is the person who has obtained a doctoral degree, or a foreign degree assessed to correspond to a doctoral degree, within the subject area of the employment and which was obtained at most three years before the date of the employment decision. If there are special reasons, the doctoral degree may have been obtained earlier.
Other requirements
Broad knowledge within the research area of bird migration ecology and evolution. Practical experience of basic molecular ecological methods, including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, and qPCR. Documented experience of genomic analyses based on re-sequencing data. Documented experience of mounting loggers and transmitters on small birds as well as analyzing light intensity and air pressure data to reconstruct migration routes. Experience of organizing fieldwork in remote locations and of leading groups of field assistants. Very good ability to express oneself orally and in writing in English.
Assessment criteria
This is a merit-based employment primarily focused on research. The employment is intended as an initial step in the career, and the assessment of applicants will primarily be based on their scientific merits and potential as researchers.
Special weight will be attached to scientific ability within the subject area.
When employing a postdoc, the following shall constitute the basis for assessment:
Good ability to develop and conduct research of good quality. The above requirements for employment
Consideration will also be given to good collaborative ability, drive, and independence, as well as how the applicant, through their experience and competence, is assessed to complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department and contribute to its future development.
Terms
The employment is fixed-term for a maximum of 3 years and concerns full-time. The employment is limited in time according to the agreement, “Agreement on fixed-term employment as postdoc”, between the labor market parties dated 2022-02-01 (Arbetsgivarverket, OFR:s, and Saco-S).
Instructions for application
The application must be written in English and include:
Curriculum vitae/CV including a publication list. A general description of previous research work and future research interests (max three pages). Contact details for at least two references. Copy of degree certificate for the doctoral degree as well as any other certificates/transcripts you wish to invoke.
At the Faculty of Science, research and education are conducted in astronomy, biology, physics, geosciences, chemistry, mathematics, medical radiation physics, environmental science, and physical geography. Operations are conducted within the northern university area. The faculty has approximately 1,900 students, 330 doctoral students, and 730 employees.
We decline all contact from advertising sales, recruitment, and staffing companies due to government procurement rules.