Dear all,

A two-year postdoctoral position in computational palaeogenetics is available at the Swedish Museum of Natural History / Stockholm University (Department of Zoology).

We are seeking talented and motivated applicants for a two-year postdoctoral research position to study past demographic change and population divergence using genetic data. The research will primarily be concerned with analysis of serially sampled datasets obtained using ancient DNA technology. The current ancient DNA research underway at the Swedish Museum of Natural History is focused on the use of genetics to study the impact of past climate change on cold-adapted taxa. Ongoing projects include population genetics of woolly mammoths and cave lions, as well as investigating what impact the end of the last glaciation had on extant species such as lemmings and grouse. In addition to this, the candidate will also have the opportunity to work together with researchers at Stockholm University on projects concerned with the phylogeography of modern-day butterfly populations.

The research position is part of a collaborative effort to examine the interaction between past climate change and population dynamics. The position will be placed within the ancient DNA research group at the Swedish Museum of Natural History (Department of Molecular Systematics), but the position also involves active collaboration with researchers at Stockholm University (Sweden), Royal Holloway University of London (UK) and University of Tromsø (Norway). The position is jointly funded through Stockholm University’s EkoKlim program, and the CLIMIGRATE project (a part of the FP7 ERA-NET program BiodivERsA).

The exact focus of the postdoctoral research project is flexible, and could in addition to participation in the projects mentioned above also include development of the candidate’s own research project (including laboratory analysis and application of next generation sequencing technology). The start date of the position is also flexible, but should ideally be during spring 2011.

The ideal candidate is a creative and independent researcher with a PhD degree and a record of scientific achievement in population genetics, computational biology, bioinformatics or evolutionary biology. Knowledge in coalescence simulations and/or Bayesian inference of demographic change using serially sampled data is highly desirable, as is fluency in some basic programming language (e.g. C++, Perl, or Python).

Applicants should submit a CV including a publication list, a cover letter describing their qualifications and reasons for applying, and a list of two persons who may provide references. Deadline for applications is December 22, 2010. The application should be submitted in electronic form to [log in to unmask]

More information about the ancient DNA research group at the Swedish Museum of Natural History can be found at:
http://palaeogenetics.com/aDNA-Stockholm/aDNA-Stockholm.html

Information about the host organisations can be found at www.nrm.se (the Swedish Museum of Natural History) and www.zoologi.su.se (Department of Zoology, Stockholm University).

For further questions regarding the position, please contact Dr. Love Dalén ([log in to unmask]).