The research group for Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics of Prof. Bornberg-Bauer at the Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Germany, is seeking to fill the following position after May 2020:
Postdoctoral Research Associate/PhD Student
Wissenschaftliche/r Mitarbeiter/in
at salary scale 13 TV-L 100%/75%
The regular weekly working hours for a 100% position are currently 39 hours and 50 minutes. The starting date is quite flexible and the project may be conducted either by a PhD student (75% FTE, 3 years) or by a postdoc (100% FTE ca. 2 years).
Research area
The successful candidate will use comparative OMICS to study the question of HOW SOCIALITY AROSE IN INSECTS. This project will study the premises of how eusociality arose via the multiple emergences of sub-sociality in various cockroach species using genomic and transcriptomic resources. This project can be seen as a "prequel" to our successful research on the evolution of "true" eusociality in termites:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29403074
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24845553
Required background and skills set
All candidates should have a keen interest in studying the evolution of genomes, transcriptomes, proteins and their functions, as well as a good understanding of the respective molecular and ecological background principles of sequence analysis. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are essential, German is helpful but not a requirement.
Candidates should hold an MSc/MRes or a PhD in bioinformatics or biology and have experience in some of the following fields: Perl or Python, handling and analyzing large RNAseq or genomic datasets, genome/transcriptome assembly, analysis of polymorphisms, positive and negative selection. French language skills are an advantage (though not a must) since the project will be in close collaboration with the Natural History Museum in Paris (iprincipal investigators Dr Frederic Legendre and Prof Philip Grandcolas).
The University of Münster is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing the proportion of female academics. Consequently, we actively encourage applications by women. Female candidates with equivalent qualifications and academic achievements will be preferentially considered within the framework of the legal possibilities. We also welcome applications from candidates with severe disabilities. Disabled candidates with equivalent qualifications will be preferentially considered.
Application procedure
Applicants should send a brief CV (pdf attachment, max. 2 pages) detailing in reverse chronological order: biographical information, scientific career, education, special relevant skills, publications, the names of two prospective referees and a short specific statement of research interest by 07 February 2020 to:
Prof. Dr. Erich Bornberg-Bauer
Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet Münster
Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity
Research group Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics
Hüfferstraße 1, 48149 Münster
Email: ebb.admin@uni-muenster.de