[SocBiN] 2 PhD student positions (Metagenomics and Genomics/Bioinformatics) at ICM, Uppsala University

[Lionel Guy]

PhD-student position in Molecular Evolution with specialization in metagenomics:
http://www.uu.se/jobb/phd-students/annonsvisning?tarContentId=190218&languageId=1

PhD-student position in Molecular Evolution with specialization in genomics and bioinformatics:
http://www.uu.se/jobb/phd-students/annonsvisning?tarContentId=190194&languageId=1

Text of the ads pasted below:

PhD-student position in Molecular Evolution with specialization in metagenomics

2012-05-21

at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
Apply no later than 2012-06-29

Starting date: September 1, 2012.

We study the molecular evolution of genomes from infectious disease causing bacteria as well as symbiotic and free-living bacteria using bioinformatic analyses of next-generation sequencing data (NGS). The knowledge is important to understand the early evolution of life as well as the mechanisms and selective forces that drive adaptations to different environments. Metagenomics is a new area of research in which all DNA present in a particular environment is sequenced and analyzed. With the aid of metagenomics it is possible to identify and study previously unknown microorganisms that have not been cultivated in the laboratory. Another new exciting technology is single cell genomics, which enables the genomes of single cells to be sequenced. By combining metagenomics and single cell genomics, it is possible to perform an in-depth investigation of the microflora, in a way that was not possible with conventional technologies.
The overall aim of this project is to study how bacterial populations evolve using metagenomics and single cell genomics. Samples will be taken from many different environments, such as lakes, fossils, earth, humans and insets. The work will be conducted in silico and consists of bioinformatics, comparative genomics and phylogeneticts. Using single cell genomics, the PhD student will reconstruct the genome from individual cells in the environment. Metagenomic reads will be recruited to the reconstructed genomes, with the aim of inferring the natural sequence variation, and more specifically to compare mutation versus recombination frequencies for different species and environments to better understand the evolutionary forces that drive changes and adaptive processes in nature.

The candidate should have a Master of Science degree in Biology or similar qualifications with specialization in bioinformatics, molecular sequence analysis, microbiology or comparative genomics. Knowledge in bioinformatics analyses of sequence data is desirable, as is prior research experience and high grades. The candidate should be able to work well as part of a team but also independently, and be proficient in both written and spoken English. 
In filling this position the university aims to recruit persons who, in the combined evaluation of competence, skills and documented qualifications, are judged most suitable to carry out and develop the work-in-hand and to contribute to the positive development of the department. 
Departmental work, mostly teaching, will constitute at most 20% of the position. Information about research education can be found at the web site of the Faculty of Science and Technology, http://www.teknat.uu.se/cms/. Applicants must be eligible for PhD studies at Uppsala University.

The application should include a letter describing research interests and relevant experiences (maximum one page), CV, copies of grades, exams, master project thesis (or parts thereof) and additional documents. Please provide contact information reference persons and recommendation letters from prior research supervisors.

More information about the position can be obtained from professor Siv Andersson, e-mail: siv.andersson at ebc.uu.se, Phone, +4618-471 64 52 and +4618-471 43 79. Union representatives are Anders Grundström, Saco-rådet, Phone, +4618-471 53 80 och Carin Söderhäll, TCO/ST, Phone, +4618-471 19 96, Stefan Djurström, Seko, Phone, +4618-471 33 15.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than June 29, 2012, UFV-PA 2012/1386. Use the link below to access the application form.




PhD-student position in Molecular Evolution with specialization in genomics and bioinformatics

2012-05-21

at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology.
Apply no later than 2012-06-29, UFV-PA 2012/1384

Starting date: September 1, 2012.

We study the molecular evolution of bacterial genomes using bioinformatic analyses of next-generation sequencing data (NGS). The knowledge is important to understand the early evolution of life as well as the mechanisms and selective forces that drive adaptations to different environments. All living organisms have traditionally been divided into two main groups based on their phenotypic characteristics: the prokaryotes (without nucleus) and the eukaryotes (with nucleus). A recently discovered group of organisms, called the Planctomycetes, have membrane structures that resemble those of eukaryotes, despite being prokaryotes as defined genetically. The overall aim of this PhD-student project is to examine how and why these cellular structures have evolved. To tackle these questions the PhD student will analyze NGS-data from closely related species with different types of nuclear-like membrane structures. The work will be conducted in silico, and will consist of bioinformatics, comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses. At a later stage, the project may incorporate attempts to design and construct membrane structures in bacterial cells with the aid of cell fusions and/or synthetic biology. The project is part of a collaborative project between research groups headed by Siv Andersson (molecular evolution) and Sandra Baldauf (systematic biology) of the Uppsala Center for Comparative Genomics www.uceg.uu.se, and is supported by a grant from the Swedish Research Council to strong research environments.

The candidate should have a Master of Science degree in Biology or similar qualifications with specialization in bioinformatics, molecular sequence analysis, microbiology or comparative genomics. Knowledge in bioinformatics analyses of sequence data is desirable, as is prior research experience and high grades. The candidate should be able to work well as part of a team but also independently, and be proficient in both written and spoken English.
In filling this position the university aims to recruit persons who, in the combined evaluation of competence, skills and documented qualifications, are judged most suitable to carry out and develop the work-in-hand and to contribute to the positive development of the department. 
Departmental work, mostly teaching, will constitute at most 20% of the position. Information about research education can be found at the web site of the Faculty of Science and Technology, http://www.teknat.uu.se/cms/. Applicants must be eligible for PhD studies at Uppsala University.

The application should include a letter describing research interests and relevant experiences (maximum one page), CV, copies of grades, exams, master project thesis (or parts thereof) and additional documents. Please provide contact information reference persons and recommendation letters from prior research supervisors.

More information about the position can be obtained from professor Siv Andersson, e-mail: siv.andersson at ebc.uu.se, Phone, +4618-471 64 52 and +4618-471 43 79. Union representatives are Anders Grundström, Saco-rådet, Phone, +4618-471 53 80 och Carin Söderhäll, TCO/ST, Phone, +4618-471 19 96, Stefan Djurström, Seko, Phone, +4618-471 33 15.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than June 29, 2012, UFV-PA 2012/1384. Use the link below to access the application form.


--
Lionel Guy 
Molecular Evolution, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
postal address: Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala; visiting address: BMC C6:305d, Husargatan 3, SE-752 37 Uppsala
phone: +46 18 471 6129, mobile +46 73 976 0618
lionel.guy at icm.uu.se