Dear ECOLOG-L members,
Below an advertisement for a 4.5-year position as research project leader, which involves insects, metabarcoding and ecosystem functioning. The deadline for application is December 18. All the best, Ayco Tack The Swedish Museum of Natural History is one of the leading institutions of its kind in Europe. It combines a venerable tradition and unique collections with cutting-edge research in geology, paleontology and biology. The Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics is focused on research in computational phylogenetics, population genetics and genomics. We run a DNA sequencing facility and host several national and international infrastructures. The Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics is looking to fill a position as RESEARCH LEADER IN COMPARATIVE INSECT BIOMICS Tasks The successful candidate will lead a large, five-year research project in comparative insect biomics funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The aim is to use metabarcoding of Malaise trap and soil samples to study the size, origins, structure and function of the insect biomes in Sweden and on Madagascar. The project is a collaboration between the Swedish Museum of Natural History (Fredrik Ronquist), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Tomas Roslin), Stockholm University (Ayco Tack) and SciLifeLab / KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Anders Andersson). The field campaign in Madagascar will be organized in collaboration with the Madagascar Biodiversity Centrer (Brian Fisher, California Academy of Sciences). Together with the PIs, the successful candidate will be expected to coordinate and lead all activities in the project including field work in Sweden and Madagascar, high-throughput sequencing of the samples, bioinformatics processing, research output, and public outreach. The project staff will include field assistants, lab technicians, a full-time bioinformatician, and four postdocs. We also expect the project to attract additional guest researchers and postdocs with external funding. The research leader will be involved in the hiring of all project staff. She or he will have a decisive influence on the detailed planning of the project, and will have a large degree of freedom in leading the project. The position will be placed in the Ronquist lab. Contact Fredrik Ronquist (contact details below) for more information about the project and the lab. Qualifications We expect the successful candidate to have a strong research background with a PhD degree and at least some postdoc experience within a field that is relevant for the project. Ideally, the candidate would have significant experience of research in: (1) insect ecology or systematics; (2) metabarcoding; and (3) computational biology. The candidate should at least be proficient in one of these areas, and minimally have an interest in and some previous exposure to the others. Previous experience of project management or of the design of field campaigns is desirable. The position can serve as a good platform for a future research career in comparative insect biomics, in which case we expect the candidate to take a leading role in some of the research studies that will result from the project. The position could also be appropriate for someone aiming at a future career in a research support role. In either case, we expect a candidate with exceptional organizational and communication skills, and with solid leadership qualities. Expect that the coordination and logistic challenges will take up a large part of the working time throughout the project but especially during the first years. Fluency in spoken and written English is essential. Ideally, the candidate would also have a working knowledge of Swedish and French (for the Madagascar part). Starting date. The starting date is July 1, 2018, and the position is for 4.5 years with a possibility of prolongation if additional funds for the project become available. For more information about the position, contact Professor Fredrik Ronquist, Head of the Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics ([email protected]; +46-8 519 540 94). Trade union representatives are Emily Dock-Åkerman ([email protected]; +46-8 519 542 18) for SACO and Anna Sandberg ([email protected]; +46-8 519 542 17) for ST. The application should consist of a personal letter, a description of the candidates vision of her or his role in the project (max 5 pages), and a CV. Mark your application with dnr 2.3.1-574-2017 and send it to [email protected] no later than December 18, 2017.
