Two postdoctoral fellows within metaomic analysis of microbial communities

Interested in host-microbiome interactions and multi-omic data? The Microbial Ecology and Meta-Omics (MEMO) group has two new postdoctoral projects for you!

About the positions, the research groups and the projects

The vacant positions are funded by Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF) and the Research Council of Norway (RCN), and are part of a collaboration between several research groups at the Faculty of Biosciences (BIOVIT) and Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food  Sciences (KBM), mainly the Microbial Ecology and Meta-Omics (MEMO), Protein Engineering and Proteomics (PEP) and Bioprocess Technology and Biorefining (BioRef). We will hire one person for 2 years, and one person for 3 years on the following projects: 

  • SuPA[cow]: Sustainable production of animals by optimizing the feed-microbiome-host axis.
  • Trained immunity and nutritional programming for resilient salmon (RCN)
  •  DIGI:  Digitalization in operation, monitoring and control of large-scale biogas plants (RCN)

These projects will examine the interplay between host-associated microbiome function and host phenotype. They will go beyond standard omic-style analyses and integrate metadata, metagenomic and metaproteomic layers in one collective analytical effort, and will additionally endeavor to include all keystone microbial genomes from bacterial, archaeal, viral and eukaryotic (fungi and protozoa) origins. Joint network analysis of expression data from both active gut microbiota and host tissue will attempt to identify key correlations between particular microbial populations and host metabolism, in particular for animals that exhibit varying performance metrics and methane levels. Taken together, it aims to integrate meta-data and multi-omics to describe the interplay between feed, host animal and its associated microbiota. For the DIGI-project, microbial dynamics in a commercial biogas plant will be investigated and possible links to process performance identified.

Main tasks

  • Generation of metagenomic datasets and population genomes that are representative of host-associated microbiomes.
  • Functional meta-omic characterisation of microbiota using metabolic reconstruction and quantitative metaproteomics. 
  • Identification of key metabolic pathways using regulatory network analysis of meta-omic data generated from microbiome(s) as well as host tissues and/or metadata.

Academic Qualifications and desired experiences

  • The main purpose of the post-doctoral position is to qualify for work in high-level scientific positions. A PhD degree in microbiology/bioinformatics is required.

Required Academic qualifications

  • PhD degree in microbiology/bioinformatics, with specific emphasis on functional microbial multi-omic data analysis.

Required Experiences

  • Methods for microbial community DNA extraction, shotgun metagenomic sequencing, assembly and binning.
  • Methods for microbial community protein extraction, protein purification and metaproteomic data generation.
  • Bioinformatic analysis of DNA and peptide data, ability to process large meta-omic datasets.
  • Fluent programming skills in at least one language.

Desired experiences

  • Molecular laboratory and/or animal experimental work
  • Single-cell sorting/sequencing

We expect that the candidates will successfully publish research findings in high-impact peer reviewed journals.  Applicants must be proficient both written and spoken, in English, and preferably in a Scandinavian language.

Remuneration and information

The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1352 Postdoctoral Fellow, wage framework 24 (salary grade 59-77) (NOK 523.200-741.300), depending on qualifications. Seniority Promotion in position.

For further information, please contact:

Assoc. Prof. Phil B. Pope (phil.pope@nmbu.no; +47 67232540)

or Prof Svein J. Horn (svein.horn@nmbu.no; +47 67232488) 

General Information to applicants

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please go to https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/185684/two-postdoctoral-fellows-within-metaomic-analysis-of-microbial-communities.

Application deadline: (May 15 2020)

Up to ten publications selected by the applicant as most relevant must be attached to the application. If it is difficult to identify the contribution of the applicant in multiple-author publications, a short explanation about the applicant’s part of the work is suggested.

 

Application deadline:
Start date:
Location: Norwegian University of Life Sciences