Postdoc in Plant-pathobiome interactions

The Section of Microbiology at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is seeking to hire an enthusiastic and talented postdoc to study microbial interactions in the plant pathobiome, for a 2-year period, commencing February 1st  2023, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The scientific environment

The postdoc will be part of the Section of Microbiology, headed by Prof. Søren Sørensen. His research group focuses on social interactions in microbial populations in in-vivo systems such as soils, plants, animals and humans. The section houses state of the art culture-independent experimental infrastructure that enables us to examine how microbes interact at a scale that is relevant for such small organisms and study the roles of the individual species in these interactions. To do so we use techniques such as high throughput sequencing, flow cytometry, ultra-high resolution bioimaging, confocal microscopy and microbial reporter systems.

See more: https://www1.bio.ku.dk/english/research/microbiology/

The project description

Like humans, microorganisms do not live solitary lives. Microbes share a vibrant social life with each other and their hosts. The same organism can attack, defend, trade, compete, and cooperate, depending on who is around them and what space they share. Across different eukaryotic hosts, endemic microorganisms have turned from benign to pathogenic, and vice versa. In plants, Fusarium oxysporum, can change, from a harmless soil-dwelling fungus to a cause of wilt diseases on plant roots. 

We are now starting to recognize the flaws of categorizing microbes as ‘pathogens’, ‘beneficials’ or ‘commensals’. Instead, the pathogenic potential of a microbe is represented in the interaction with its surrounding biotic environment. We propose that pathogenesis or disease development results from highly specific interactions within the pathobiome and the host. In this project, we aim to reveal and characterize these interactions, and explore how we can regulate them to prevent disease outbreaks, thus changing the paradigm from single pathogens to pathobiomes.

The project involves using advanced metagenomics, transcriptomics, flow cytometry and in-planta assays to study which interactions promote disease development in plants. The candidate will: (1) generate and analyze metagenomic and transcriptomic data in a plant-pathogen model (2) Cultivate host-associated microorganisms and assemble the pathobiome in-vitro. (3) Modulate these interactions in in-planta assays to disrupt disease development.

The current position is part of a Villum Experiment grant called Microbes and their sinister social lives (MASS) (https://veluxfoundations.dk/en/about/projects-granted#/0066700000uIA7WAAW ). The candidate will be supervised by Dr. Tanvi Taparia ([email protected] ) and co-supervised by Prof. Søren Sørensen ([email protected] ).

Job description

Your key tasks as a Postdoc at SCIENCE are:

• Manage and carry through your research project
• Collaborate closely with two ongoing plant microbiome projects
• Disseminate your research and write scientific articles
• Take part in activities related to teaching at the department
• Research stay abroad at partner labs is optional (up to the candidate)

Assessment criteria
We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious individual who is curious to understand how interactions in microbiological systems work. Highly desired candidates will have a solid theoretical background of microbial ecology or plant-microbiome interactions, as well as practical expertise in microbiology, molecular biology and -omics technologies.

Educational qualifications:
Ph.D. in Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Plant Pathology, Theoretical Ecology, or a related biological sciences field is required (applicants expecting to obtain their PhD degree by the position start date will also be taken into consideration).

Required qualifications:

• Practical expertise with methods in microbiology and molecular biology
• Documented working experience with plant assays or plant pathogens
• Multi-omics data analysis in R or Python
• Good knowledge of biostatistics
• Good communication skills and collaborative mentality.
• Curious and willingness to work across disciplines.

Nice-to-have qualifications
Experience with plants experiments, including cultivation, maintenance and site specific sampling of microbial communities in the rhizosphere; rhizoplane and endosphere.

Experience with any or all of the following methodology: FISH detection in combination with CLSM microscope imaging and/or FACS analyses, molecular cloning, preparation of sequencing libraries (Illumina, PacBio), analysis of metagenomic and meta-transcriptomic sequencing data.

Terms of employment
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.

The monthly salary starts at 31,709 DKK/ approx. 4,262 Euro (October 2022-level). The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The application, in English, must be submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Curriculum vitae
• Diplomas (Master and PhD degree or equivalent in English)
• Motivation letter specifying project related experience
• Complete publication list
• Separate reprints of 2-3 particularly relevant papers

The deadline for applications is 30 November 2022, 23:59 GMT +1.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

Contact
Inquiries about the position can be made to:

Dr. Tanvi Taparia
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +45 60905515

Prof. Søren Sørensen

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +45 51827007

Further information on the Department is linked at https://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/ . 

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH in these links: http://ism.ku.dk , https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/frontpage.htm and https://www.workindenmark.dk/ .

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.