Postdoctor in Reproductive genetics

Reference number PAR 2024/922

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Subject area 

Reproductive genetics

Subject area description 

Miscarriage is the most common pregnancy complication, with over 23 million pregnancies ending in miscarriage every year. Chromosome abnormalities – aneuploidies – are observed in half of all miscarried fetuses, but not all fetuses with chromosome abnormalities miscarry, with some surviving until, or even after birth. This project aims to quantify the contribution of the fetal genome in miscarriage, particularly among fetuses with normal chromosome counts. The postdoc fellow will lead a project using large-scale genetic data from miscarriage fetuses and their mothers (including calling of aneuploidies) and contribute to ongoing efforts in this field (GWAS, meta-analyses, etc).

Duties 

The person employed as a postdoc fellow will primarily conduct research. The job assignments include data quality control and analysis, dissemination of results (write research articles, presentations at conferences), and supervision of Master/ PhD students. We expect the postdoc fellow to conduct high-quality research. There are opportunities to expand the project's focus within the framework of the specified project and postdoctoral fellow's interests and specialization. The postdoc fellow is also expected to participate and assist in projects from other group members and colleagues, and to contribute to administrative tasks such as data acquisition and applications to the ethics committee, among others.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree in a relevant subject, or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area. 

Assessment criteria 

The applicant must have a PhD degree in a field equivalent or similar to molecular biology, statistical biology, biomedicine, epidemiology, genetics, statistics, mathematical, computer or biomedical sciences. Experience in statistical modeling, either in the context of genetics or epidemiology, as well as ability to work in R/ Python and a UNIX environment are required. Excellent oral and written English language skills are also required.

Other qualifications are proven ability to write coherent scientific text with at least one published or submitted manuscript where the applicant is the first author and wrote a major part of the text. The position requires collaboration with colleagues and other research groups, but ability to generate and pursue research ideas independently will be essential.

Merits are:

- Proven experience in calling copy number variants or abnormal chromosome counts
- Proven experience with population genetics (microarrays, GWAS, GxE studies)
- Experience with large data analysis or bioinformatics
- Clinical knowledge of physiology and biology of pregnancy
- Experience in molecular biology
- Experience in student supervision
- Experience with version control in Git and reproducible science (Snakemake, conda, etc)

Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability (collaborative, creative and structured).

Employment 

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 24 months
Extent: 100 %
Location: Institute of Medicine,The Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Gothenburg
First day of employment: As soon as possible

Contact information 

Pol Solé-Navais
Researcher
+46 704 71 92 83
pol.sole.navais@gu.se

Malin Levin
Head of Department
malin.levin@wlab.gu.se

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande 

Application 

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.  

Please attach PhD certificate with the application, if the PhD certificate has not yet been issued, it needs to be attached latest at the time when the employment decision is to be made.

We kindly ask you to write your application in English as the application may be reviewed by English-speaking staff. The selection process will likely be composed of interviews, reference taking and work tests in English.

The application should also contain a cover letter giving a brief description of previous research experience, how this experience and your qualifications are suited to the research project proposed, CV (including a selected list of publications, max. 3), PhD certificate and contact details of two references who may be contacted before/ after the interview stage.

Applications must be received by: 2024-11-27

 

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.