Postdoc position in the evolution of resistance and pathogenicity
Do you want to grow in an exciting research environment and really make an impact? Join our innovative team and fight antiobiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance is one of the most severe threats to human health globally. The Bengtsson-Palme lab is using data driven approaches to find solutions and interventions to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. We are looking for a driven and independent candidate with strong laboratory skills and experience with experimental evolution for a two-year postdoc on evolution of resistance and pathogenicity in microbial communities.
Project overview
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major healthcare challenge that, unless controlled, will cause millions of deaths annually in just a couple of decades. Worryingly, there also seems to be links between AMR and virulence in bacteria, meaning that selection from antibiotics might also drive evolution of increased pathogenicity among microbes.
Specifically, this postdoc position will investigate evolutionary trajectories in microbial communities exposed to antibiotics, aiming to identify factors important for antibiotic resistance colonization and virulence in opportunistic pathogens.Furthermore, the project will also involve identifying genes and species involved in community interactions that maintain stability and protection against potential pathogens, especially under exposure to stressors.
Information about the division and the department
The project is funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research. While working in the group, the postdoc will interact with other lab members with expertise in microbiology, bioinformatics and large-scale data analysis. Close collaborations exist with partners in Gothenburg and nationally, as well as with international partners.The postdoc will join a productive interdisciplinary research environment at Chalmers SysBio. For more information about the Bengtsson-Palme lab and SysBio, please visit these websites: Bengtsson-Palme lab and SysBio
Main responsibilities
Your major responsibility as postdoc is to perform your own research in a research group. You will be expected to perform laboratory experiments, analyze and interpret the outcomes of these experiments, and contextualize those with previous knowledge.Furthermore, you will perform tasks related to predicting genes responsible for antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity from sequencing data.
You will be responsible for experimental planning, sample collection, data handling, writing of publications and communications of results from the project, as well as internal communication within the project. You may also take part in supervision of PhD students.
Another important aspect involves collaboration within academia and with society at large. The position is meritorious for future research duties within academia as well as industry/the public sector.
Qualifications
The successful candidate fulfills the following qualifications and skills:- A doctoral degree in a relevant subject, such as microbiology, molecular biology, biomedicine, biotechnology, environmental sciences, or similar. This degree should typically not be more than three years old *
- Previous wet lab experience, including microbiological work
- An ability to work independently as well as in teams and take responsibility for progress of the project
- Strong publication record, evidenced by authorships in peer-reviewed publications, in relation to career age
- Fluency in spoken and written English.
- Advanced scientific writing skills with an ability to write papers independently
- Experience with experimental evolution in bacteria
- Experience with large collections of bacterial mutants, such as the KEIO collection
- Previous work with antibiotic resistance, particularly mechanisms of resistance
- Experience with bacterial molecular biology
- Work with genome engineering, such as transposon mutatgenesis, pCP20, or pORTMAGE systems
- Previous work on microbial communities, particularly combined with antibiotic resistance or pathogenicity
- Data analysis in R (or similar)
- Experience with analysis of large-scale data (particularly genome sequence data, transcriptomics and proteomics)
- Previous supervision of students
- Outreach activities to spread science to the general public
- The date shown in your doctoral degree certificate is the date we use, as this is the date you have met all requirements for the doctoral degree. Exceptions from the 3-year limit can be made for longer periods resulting from parental leave, sick leave or military service.
This postdoc position is a full-time temporary employment for two years with the possibility of a one year extension.
What we offerChalmers provides a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg.
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.
Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.
Application procedureTo apply for the position, please follow this link to Chalmers website: advert Chalmers website
Application deadline: April 17th 2025