Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant-Microbiome Metabolomics

The Kiel Plant Center and the Institute for Human Nutrition and Food Science at Kiel University, Germany are inviting applications for a

Postdoctoral researcher (PostDoc) (f/d/m) in Plant-Microbiome Metabolomics

in the field of computational metabolomics with a fixed-term contract for 36 months. The salary is based on the German public pay scale (TV-L 13) if the conditions of the collective agreement are met. The regular weekly working hours are those of a full-time employee (currently 38.7 hours).

The post doctoral candidate will be associated with the Nutriinformatics research group in which research is focused on:

• The microbial contribution to the host organism metabolome
• Computational challenges and software solutions in metabolomics data analysis
• Construction of predictive models of host-microbiota co-metabolism

Moreover, the position is associated to the research initiatives of the Kiel Plant Center (spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Eva Stukenbrock). In collaboration with Kiel Plant Center, the Nutriinformatics group is developing a new focus on plant-associated microbiota. The postdoctoral researcher employed in the project will join this new research initiative to address microbiota-plant co-metabolism that aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of plant stress responses. For further details regarding the specific research, applicants can contact Prof. Silvio Waschina ([email protected] ).

Job description

The successful candidate will work in a vibrant team of computational biologists with close connections to experimental biology. During the three years, the PostDoc is expected to:

• Deepening knowledge and experience in software development; specifically for computer-assisted analyses of mass spectrometry data (e.g., untargeted FT-ICR-MS data).
• Acquisition or deepening of knowledge in statistical analysis of metabolomics data for the investigation of microbiota-plant co-metabolism.
• Develop results for scientific publications and present these findings as presentations at scientific meetings.
• Acquire experience in the application of third-party funded projects.

Requirements

• Qualifying doctoral degree in the subject of bioinformatics, computational biology, chemoinformatics or a molecular biology-related discipline with a strong focus on computational approaches. The doctorate must have already been completed or is expected to be completed within 6 months of the application deadline.
• Knowledge in molecular biology (i.e. cellular metabolism), microbial ecology, and metabolomics.
• Proven experience (e.g. via a github/gitlab profile) in programming and scripting; ideally using R and/or python.
• Proven scientific record (e.g. peer-reviewed papers).
• Skills and experience in the statistical analysis of high-dimensional data (e.g. metabolomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, etc.) are an advantage.
• Skills and motivation to proactively communicate and participate in a vibrant research team.
• Very good oral and written communication skills in English.
• Any of the following expertise is an advantage: metabolic network modelling, theoretical chemoinformatics, mass spectrometry (sample preparation and data acquisition), plant metabolism, microbial metabolism, multi-omics data analysis (e.g. multivariate statistical models, machine learning).

Kiel University aims to be a modern and international employer. A strategic goal of the university is gender equality. We welcome your application regardless of your age, gender, cultural and social origin, religion, worldview, disability or sexual identity. The University also supports the employment of disabled persons. Persons with disabilities will, with appropriate qualification and aptitudes, be employed preferentially.

We also support the application of people with a foreign background.

The University strongly encourages women with appropriate qualifications to apply for the position. Women with equivalent qualifications, competence and expertise will be given preference.

Applications with the usual documents (motivation letter, curriculum vitae, copies of certificates, name and contacts of two referees, list of publications plus a copy of the thesis as a separate PDF) in German or English should be sent digitally in PDF format (documents in other formats will not be considered) and referring to the reference number „NICM2“ latest by 23.12.2022 to:

Jun. Prof. Dr. Silvio Waschina
Institute for Human Nutrition and Food Science
Research Group Nutriinformatics
Kiel University
Email: [email protected]

Please refrain from submitting application photos. Please note that all documents will be destroyed once the recruitment process has been completed. In the case of paper applications, please send copies without application folders, as the application documents will not be returned.