Research assistant - Environmental nucleic acid extraction and analysis

Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment
The Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment (www.slu.se/aquatic-sciences) is working with applied environmental science, with a national responsibility for assessing the condition of Swedish surface waters with respect to water chemistry, pollution and aquatic biota. The department has some 130 employees. The research focuses on geochemical and hydrological processes, aquatic ecology and biodiversity, as well as on aquatic ecotoxicology and environmental chemistry. The department is part of a Soil-Water-Environment cluster, a recently established competence center for landscape-level processes that also includes the Departments of ‘Soil and Environment’ and ‘Energy and Technology’. The breadth of expertise among the 300 members in combination with a well-equipped infrastructure creates a unique platform for high quality research as well as environmental monitoring and assessment. 
Duties:
We are looking for research assistant with a solid molecular biology and/or microbiology laboratory background for processing and analyzing a large number of environmental samples from various aquatic systems. The work will involve RNA and DNA extractions from samples, analysis and quality control of nucleic acids for sequencing, PCR amplification and preparation of the same samples for barcoded Illumina sequencing or genotyping. The person we hire is also expected to contribute to organizing and running the Functional Microbial Ecology Lab.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate must have a university degree in the broader field of biosciences and extensive laboratory experience relevant for the tasks to be carried out. Previous experience extracting DNA and RNA from challenging low-input samples and amplicon-based analyses are considered merits. We want a candidate who can work independently and in a structured manner, with attention to detail and proper written documentation. The working language in the group is English and the candidate must have a good ability to communicate in English both in writing and orally. 

Place of work:
Uppsala

Form of employment:
Fixed term employment of 6 months, with possible extension.

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
January 2022

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2021-12-15, 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