Postdoctoral position in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions

Department of Plant Protection Biology
The department of plant protection biology is an interdisciplinary constellation, encompassing Integrated Plant Protection, Chemical Ecology, Resistance Biology research units, providing excellent opportunities for strong research collaboration within and outside the departmental area. Research efforts at the department are directed towards both fundamental and applied research. Applied plant protection research is carried out in collaboration with industry and focuses primarily on the development of environmentally sustainable pest and disease control strategies for agriculture and horticulture, both in Sweden and internationally.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Duties:
The post-doctoral researcher will work in a Formas-funded project, which aims to analyse the field expression and molecular evolution of Phytophtora infestans effectors. One line of research will involve sequencing of P. infestans isolates from the field focusing on pathogenicity determinants, e.g., by using techniques such as PenSeq and bioinformatic approaches. A second line of research will explore the hypothesis that oomycetes maintain large numbers of effectors, in part to allow them to better compete against multiple other microbes in the plant pathobiome or symbiome. We will therefore analyse the expression and function of effectors from both the late blight pathogen P. infestans and the symbiotic oomycete Pythium oligandrum during interactions with potato and with other microbes.

The postdoc will be responsible for designing, developing, conducting, and analysing molecular, as well as bioinformatics, experiments, with the support of a research engineer. Other duties include writing of scientific manuscripts, presenting project outcomes at conferences and workshops, and communicating with stakeholders and industry partners, as well as supervising bachelor or master’s students, as and when the opportunity arises.

Qualifications:
The candidate should hold a PhD degree in biology, plant pathology, molecular plant-microbe interactions, bioinformatics or a similar subject. Merits are previous research experience of evolutionary molecular plant-microbe interactions, oomycete genetics and/or effector biology, microbiology, molecular biology, demonstrated skills in computer programming (e.g., R) and bioinformatics (e.g., comparative genomics, RNAseq analysis, PenSeq analysis). Candidates should be fluent in spoken and written English. The candidate must be capable of independent planning, execution and evaluation of experiments or theoretical work. As a person you are enthusiastic and responsible and have excellent collaborative skills. Personal skills are therefore an important part of the evaluation.

As 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.
Place of work:
Alnarp, Sweden

Form of employment:
Temporary employment 24 months, with the possibility of extension

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
Subject to negotiation, but preferably March 2023

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2023-01-16, use the button below.

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.

www.slu.se