Postdoc fellowship in Forest Health

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The Faculty of Technology offers a broad spectrum of activities across nine different departments and is central to the technical education and research conducted at Linnaeus University. The Department of Forest and Wood Technology offers wide-ranging thematic activities from forest ecology to finished wood products. Benefits for the climate arising from forests lie at the core of all department activities.

Subject field for the position: Postdoc associate in Forest Health.
Placement: Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Technology, Växjö, Sweden.
Extent and period: Start date as agreed, for a duration of two (2) years. The extent is 100%.

Context of position:
The project addresses the process of formation of necrosis (dying and dead tissue that forms lesions or cankers) caused by pathogens in woody tissues. This process is often used as a proxy for tree disease resistance in bioassays that aim to support the selection of resistant genotypes for breeding purposes. A so far poorly understood factor in this interaction is the associated microbiome, the communities of fungi and bacteria on and inside the tissues of every tree. These microbes may influence the interaction between a specific pathogen and the host tree, e.g., by antagonizing the invading pathogen or by inducing or suppressing the plant defences. The environment strongly determines the composition of tree microbiomes and thus they can impose the necrosis formation with an environmentally determined control that could obscure the interpretation of lesion size as a proxy for the genetic resistance of trees. This project aims to clarify the possible involvement of the microbiome in necrosis formation in pines and to critically evaluate the reliability of necrosis size as a proxy for genetic resistance of trees against fungal pathogens in bioassays.

Duties:
The work consists of research tasks within the project "Evaluation of necrosis formation as a robust tool in forest tree resistance breeding". You will be responsible for laboratory and greenhouse studies aimed at increasing understanding of the role of endophytic fungal and bacterial communities in necrosis formation in forest trees. You will design and optimize experimental protocols and use metagenomics and advanced microscopy to produce data that is then reported in scientific and popular science publications. The practical relevance of the findings will be evaluated together with the stakeholders. You are expected to participate in joint tasks in the laboratory, including assistance in teaching at the advanced level and in postgraduate education, which may also include supervision of student projects.

Qualifications:
Qualified for the position is a person who holds a doctoral degree in biology, microbiology, ecology, forest sciences or a related subject, or has a foreign degree that corresponds to a doctoral degree. Because postdoctoral appointments are career-developing positions for junior researchers, we are primarily looking for candidates with a doctoral degree that is three years old at most. Eligibility for this employment also requires knowledge and demonstrated skills in molecular techniques and laboratory methods. Proficiency in English (both spoken and written) is required. Experience in forest pathology or mycology is merit. Applicants must not have previously been employed as a postdoctoral fellow for more than one year in the same or related subject area at Linnaeus University.

Further information:
Professor Johanna Witzell, tel: 0470-70 88 25, E-post johanna.witzell@lnu.se  
Head of department: Erika Olofsson, tel: 0470 70 80 99, E-post: erika.olofsson@lnu.se
HR-partner: Jesper Pettersson, E-post Jesper.pettersson@lnu.se

Last day to apply is 14th October 2022


Linnaeus University has the ambition to utilize the qualities that an even gender distribution and diversity brings to the organization.

Please apply by clicking on the Apply button at the bottom of the ad. Your application should be designed according to the Template for application which can be found in the Guide to Appointment procedures under important documents below the ad. The credentials you invoke must be verified with certification and they must be attached digitally in your application. Other documents, including various types of scientific works, must be submitted digitally along with the application. The application and other documents to be marked with the reference number. All documents cited must be received by the University no later than 24.00 (Local time in Sweden) on the closing day.